CENTRAL ANATOLIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY

These two charming Yürük prayer rugs highlight the variety found in their nomadic tradition. The stepped polychrome multiple mihrab design of our first rug is typical of the group; a prayer rug with a close design was published by W. Brüggeman and H. Böhmer (Teppiche der Bauren und Nomaden in Anatolien, Hanover, 1980, pl.46, p.201) whilst a related example with a similar vibrant palette sold in Sotheby’s New York, 31 January 2014, lot 111. A further example, although earlier in feel, is published in Oriental Carpets by Ulrich Schürmann (London, 1968, p.25). This last rug shares the more commonly found camel colouring with our second Yürük rug, whose arrowhead mihrab design is rather more unusual and one for which we cannot find a comparable.