WEST ANATOLIA, LATE 16TH CENTURY

Star Ushak carpets such as the present example are one of the best known types of carpet within the field of 'classical carpets'. The popularity of these beautiful court carpets is attested to by the thriving export market for these weavings from the early 16th century. ‘Star’ Ushak carpets first began to be depicted in Western Paintings in the 16th century, with the first appearing under the throne of the Venetian Doge in Paris Bordone's 1534 painting Fisherman Presenting a Ring to the Doge Gradenigo (Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice). These carpets also appear to have been a favoured design of the 16th century English court. In at least three paintings by the court painters Hans Holbein and Hans Eworth, King Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) is depicted standing on top of a ‘Star’ Ushak ('Portraits of King Henry VIII', HALI, vol.3 no.3, pp.176-181).

The design of the 'Star' Ushak carpet originated in the Ottoman court nakkashane (atelier) and relates to a number of other motifs produced there in the 15th century, such as architectural tile designs (Jon Thompson, 'Carpets in the Fifteenth Century', Carpets and Textiles in the Iranian World 1400-1700, Oxford, 2010, pp.31-57). The pattern is an endless repeat of star medallions set on floral vine backgrounds, which is a close relative of the large medallion Ushak carpets, as demonstrated by a particularly well-preserved example that sold Christie's, London, 23 April 2013, lot 175. Another comparable rug was sold as part of the Ghigo collection in these Rooms, 12 May 2016, lot 252.