Carpet, Arabesque design

Date17th or 18th century

Mediumwool pile, natural warps, pink wool wefts.

Dimensions6' 4" x 4' 4".

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1952-143

DescriptionArabesque design carpet. Ghiordes knots; about 64 knots per square inch; 2 shoots pink wool wefts after each row of knots. Colors: Ground: field-brick red, main border-yellow/red, inner border-blue, outer border-brick red, Pattern: yellow, gold, dark blue, light blue, red, white, black. The field has an all over pattern of angular arabesques with full palmettes and half palmettes forming various geometrical designs. The main border shows angualr floral and geometric devoces centered in triangular forms edged with latch hook motifs. The inner and outer borders shoe voluted stems connected with simple diamond and square shapes.

Construction History
17th or 18th century: Initial construction
1954: Repaired, lined, renovated, and mothproofed by Beshir Galleries (New York, NY)
1966: Cleaned by hand & renovated by Beshir Galleries (New York, NY)
June 1983: Linen backing restitched and both sides vacuumed by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)Label TextOften called “Lotto” carpets after the Italian Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto’s frequent use of them in his art, this Turkish carpet was produced in the late seventeenth century during what is known as the “Golden Age” of carpet weaving. Many of these carpets were produced for export to Europe and ended up draped over tabletops. Probate inventories from York County, Virginia show many “old carpets” and “bed side carpets” in households. These small floor or table coverings were costly investments and used for generations.Inscription(s)None foundMark(s)None foundProvenancePrior to 1952, Beshir Galleries (New York, NY); 1952-present, purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)