Carpet, lotto design

DateProbably late 17th century

MediumWool pile, natural wool warps and red wool wefts.

Dimensions5'6" x 3'9"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1952-141

DescriptionLotto design carpet. Ghiordes knot; about 68 knots per square inch; 2 shoots red wool weft after each row of knots. Colors: (6) Ground colors: Field: red, outer border: red, pattern colors: yellow, white, light blue, green , brown. The field has an allover pattern of angular arabesques with full palmettes and half palmettes forming various geometrical devices. The border contains a design of interlacings derived from Kufic lettering. The outer guard band has smallleaves forming a continuous design of rosettes.

Construction History
Late 17th century: Initial construction
1953: Repaired by Beshir Galleries (New York, NY)
1970: Cleaned by hand, edges overcast, and minor repairs to fringe ends by Beshir Galleries (New York, NY)
March 1996: Routinely vacuumed by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)Label TextWith its angular yellow arabesques, deep red ground, and Kufic-inspired border, this carpet is a representative example of the Turkish Ushak "Lotto" design. The term "Lotto" is derived from the Renaissance painter, Lorenzo Lotto, because of his frequent inclusion of Oriental carpets in his work (though not always depicting carpets we would categorize as "Lottos" today). "Holbeins," another design classification of Turkish rugs, similarly get their name from a Renaissance artist, Hans Holbein the Younger who depicted Oriental rugs in his paintings. Today, these paintings provide visual clues to the prominence and presence of Turkish rugs among the Renaissance-era European elite.Inscription(s)None foundMark(s)None foundProvenancePrior to 1952, Beshir Galleries (New York, NY); Purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)