CENTRAL ANATOLIA, DATED AH 1271/1854-55 AD

The classic design of this central Anatolian Ladik prayer rug is one of a small number of designs that ultimately derive from the court production of the previous two centuries. Although their compositions are formulaic, it is the subtle adjustments made to the motifs and the interplay of colour that sets each example apart. The border of angular hooked flowerheads on our prayer rug is unusual for this group and more closely resembles the panelled polychrome borders of radiating flowerheads found in the prayer rugs of Mujur. It is more usual for the spandrels to be decorated with the serrated leaf and carnation design also common in ‘Transylvanian’ rugs, however, our example exhibits a flowering plant resembling a pomegranate set upon a sky-blue background. For a fuller discussion on this group see Julia Bailey, 'Ladik Prayer Rugs', HALI, 28, pp.18-25,