Ottoman Empire, Central Anatolia, Konya region, cca 1890. Hand-knotted wool rug on cotton foundation.
This fragment is a stark reminder, how artificial aniline dyes have been once threatening thriving carpet industry in Ottoman Empire and Qajar Persia, namely in the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century.
The colours are from a traditional regional palette, the tones of which indicate, that this rug was made around the date as suggested. Particularly the aubergine /violet tones are aniline dyes, supported by the strong red colouring in the details. The extensive use of these unstable dyes have practically destroyed many beautiful rugs and carpets and in many areas - thus the weavers and dyers gradually began humble returning to plant-based dyes, which do not fade in quick pace, but nicely mellow through time.
Museum piece, which can serve as an example of unhappy phase in rug production in cradles of Oriental weaving.
MEASURES: cca 130 x 90 cm (cca 4 ft 4 in x 3 ft).