Confronted Animals design rug (Reconstruction of the 13/14th century Seljuk rug)

Confronted Animal Rug (Reconstruction of the 13/14th century (Seljuk (Anatolian Seljuks: 1077-1308) or Ilkhanid (1256-1335) Period animal motif rug, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

CODE: CAMM14-12
Size (metric): 146x155cm
Size (ft): 4'9"x5'1"
Area: 2.26 m²
Weaving period: three months

Colors: madder red, sky blue, navy blue, yellow, ivory (undyed), dark brown (undyed).
Dyes: 100% natural dyes: madder, weld (Reseda Luteola), indigo, pomegranate skins, onion skins, natural brown sheep wool, natural ivory sheep wool
Materials: Handcarded and handspun wool for pile, wool warps (natural ivory) and ivory wool wefts (two shots)

Weavers' name: Könül, Aynura

Handwoven in Azerbaijan

Inscriptions: tamgas (tribal seal) of Afshar tribe

Pile height: 0.5cm

Ends: chained fringes, ~2 cm of flatwoven kilim ends

Design: With its highly geometricized design, this wool rug differs markedly from the refined courtly carpets, and represents an earlier tradition of weaving that was popular in Europe, where rugs like this are found in fourteenth- and fifteenth century churches and paintings. In fact, the depiction of some rugs with the similar animal design as this in the 14-century Sienese paintings allows for the dating of the original rug. This is one of only three complete rugs of such an early date and its design of large confronted animals, each with a smaller animal inside, probably derives from contemporary textiles.

Confronted Animal Rug, 13-14th Century. Late Seljuk (Anatolian Seljuks: 1077-1308), Ilkhanid (1256-1335) or Eldiguzids (Atabegs of Azerbaijan 1135-1225), Turkey or Caucasus. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The rug has been carbon 14 dated to 1040-1290 AD

The Marriage of the Virgin about 1423, Attributed to Gregorio di Cecco di Luca *

Annunciation, Siena, ca. 1345, formerly in Schlossmuseum, Berlin

c. 1345. Abegg-Stiftung Collection, Riggisberg, Switzerland

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints, ca. 1349