Title: Carpet

Date: 19th century

Geography: Attributed to Caucasus

Medium: Cotton (warp), wool (weft); symmetrically woven pile

Dimensions: L. 128 in. (325.1 cm)
W. 67 1/2 in. (171.5 cm)

Classification: Textiles-Rugs

Credit Line: Bequest of Joseph V. McMullan, 1973

Accession Number: 1974.149.5

Carpet

Even though different in general design, there can be no doubt that the pattern of this flat woven rug was derived directly from the tradition of the ‘dragon’ rugs of the 16th and 17th centuries (see no. 39 in this volume). In fact, the surface is almost entirely covered with continuous rows of highly stylized, enormous, dragon figures, alternating in colour. The patterns on the bodies of these fantastic animals, although largely floral in nature, seem to indicate the presence of scales, which are particularly emphasized in the two white dragon-figures in the first row. Groups of other animals, probably stags on a minute scale, are scattered all through the field. A curious feature is the presence of three small human figures.

[Arts Council 1972]

James W. Barney Collection(in 1931); Joseph V. McMullan, New York (by 1946–d. 1973; bequeathed to MMA)

"Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Hayward Gallery, London, 19 October–10 December 1972." In Islamic Carpets from the Joseph V. McMullan Collection. London: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1972. no. 39, p. 43, ill. pl. XII (color).

McMullan, Joseph V., and Ernst J. Grube. Islamic Carpets. New York: Near Eastern Art Research Center, 1965. no. 39, pp. 160–61, ill. (color).

Thompson, Jon. "Exotic Textiles from New York Collectors." In Timbuktu to Tibet. New York, 2008. p. 37, ill. fig. 1.40 (color.