SpongoBongo
and Persian Carpet Guide
Antique Spanish Rugs, Textiles and Art
Islam
was a major force in the Iberian Peninsula from 711 AD to 1492 when the
Moos were expelled and the last Mosque was closed. First with the
Islamic Bebers and then with the Moors thee was a significant influence
of Islamic art in Rugs, Textiles and other art. This is not to say the
Morisco identity disappeaed with the close the mosqus as
was demonstrated by the Second Rebellion of the Alpujarras in 1568 and
the foced deportations of Morisco families as late as 1609.
Despite the forced conversions of the Morisco population we can
see the vestiges of their atistic tradition quite late.
When we
look at the so-called Spanish carpets we see that they are made with a
knot (looped wripping) on one warp rathe than the more common knot on
two warps as we see iin the broad belt of weaving from Egypt through
the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Central Asia and into China.
This sinle warp knot is the same as we see in Morocco but not commonly
seen in any othe group. It shows dsitinctions from what we see in
Tibet. Following the pattern of usage I can only assume that Spanish
and Morocan weaving stems from the same ethno-linguistic group which
must be the Moors fomerly of Spain and now of Morroco. So as a group we
may more propperly see spanish weaving as one branck of Moorish
weaving. In other words Spanish weaving derives from Afro-Asiatic
traditions rather than ino-European. |
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Antique 16th Century Alcaraz Oriental Rug 3288
Style: Alcaraz
Origin: Spain
Size: 5. ft x 10 ft 02 in (1.52 m x 3.10
m)
Antique
Alcaraz long rug from Spain, second half of the sixteenth century A
grand pattern of staggered palmettes and acanthus vines in deep sage
green spreads majestically across the rich butterscotch ground of
splendid Alcaraz. After 1500 the carpet workshops of Spain turned away
from their Oriental origins and developed a new European ornamental
vocabulary of medieval and classical derivation, which this rug so
beautifully exemplifies. The dynamic leafy S-scrolls of the border with
their dragon heads provide a contrast to the expansive palmettes of the
field, while still utilizing the same contrasting green and
butterscotch tones.
Seen
on
www.NazmiyaAntiqueRugs.com
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