General Classification: Turkish Rugs

JBOC Comments: The auction description mentions that red kilim ends with a white stripe running through it is the 'signature' of Toussounian rug. Especially interesting is the suggestion that Toussounian was a producer rather than a weaver. This is much like the role of the Seirafians in Isfahan.

Description:

FINE RUGS AND CARPETS, INCLUDING ISLAMIC TEXTILES
SALE L03760 LOT 94
SESSION 1 | 30 Apr 03 2:00 PM.
London, New Bond Street
A silk and metal-thread Kum Kapi rug
Istanbul
12,000—18,000 GBP
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 14,400 GBP
MEASUREMENTS
204 by 135cm., 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 5in.
DESCRIPTION
early 20th century


The red kilim ends of this rug, with the white stripe running through it, are the 'signature' of Toussounian who has often been considered to be one of the most prolific of the master weavers of the Kum Kapi school. Recent scholarship has, however, cast doubt on whether Toussounian was a weaver at all, arguing that he was in fact a merchant who owned workshops and commissioned rugs from the most skillful Armenian weavers of Istanbul. It may be that the present rug is the work of the master weaver Hagop Kapoudjian, who is known to have produced a number of rugs for Toussounian, and is associated with the relatively thick pile and characteristic plum-red ground displayed by this example see Farrow, G., Hagop Kapoudjian, London, 1993.

For a rug of identical design, but with some variations in colour, see Middleton, A., Rugs & Carpets, Mitchell Beazley, 1996, p.33 and back cover.

Seen on www.Sothebys.com