39
The Bode Ottoman Prayer Kilim
Western Anatolia, 18th century or earlier
114 x 169 cm, wool pile on a wool foundation
Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, inv. no. KGM 1882, 703
The structure of this prayer kilim or niche-hanging suggests a west Anatolian origin. The quality and intricate nature of the weaving and its similarity to a small group of kilims with horizontal stripes and comparable floral decoration point to a specific professional workshop serving a sophisticated clientele. Whether or not the decidedly Ottoman nature of the floral motifs, particularly the tulips, indicates a court connection is another question. It could just be that the weavers worked from a design language that was by then common currency. The only other niche rug in this group is a fragmented example in Ankara. A wider family of more rural Anatolian kilims grew out of this nucleus, but they lack the finesse of the parent group.
text and images © Sakip
Sabanci Museum, Istanbul
and textile-art, London, 2007:
not to be reproduced without permission