Carpet, star design
Date17th century
OriginAsia, Turkey
MediumWool pile, natural cotton warp, red wool wefts.
Dimensions77" X 138"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1958-636
DescriptionStar design carpet: ghiordes knot; approximately 63 knots per square inch; 2 shoots of red wool wefts after each row of knots. Colors: Ground: field- red; stars-dark blue; borders- red and light blue; Pattern: white, yellow, light blue, dark blue, red and green. The field has 4 rows of star shaped medallions alternating with lozenges containing interlaced arabesques, forming central devices. The rest of the field shows angular floral scrolls bearing lotus palmettes, birds and leaves. In the border a linear arabesque with half-palmettes forms a series of arched compartments filled with floral scrolls. Construction History
17th century: Initial construction
July-Aug. 1970: Cleaned by hand, edges weaved, lining replaced by Beshir Galleries (New York, NY)Label TextThis 17th century carpet is a clear example of the Star Ushak type, with its central arabesque-filled eight-pointed stars and surrounding detailed floral motifs. Such elaborate "Turkey carpets" were valued household commodities in Western Europe, and consequently, early America, often acting as expressions of status and wealth.Inscription(s)None foundMark(s)None foundProvenancePrior to 1958, Beshir Galleries (New York, NY); 1958-present, purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)
18th c.
17th or 18th c.
17th century or later
Probably late 17th century
17th century
17th or 18th century
18th or 19th century
17th c. probably
18th century (possibly)
Possibly 19th century
20th century
18th century, possibly