Posted by R. John Howe on December 10, 1998 at 19:12:00:
In Reply to: Re: A Simple Lattice, Maybe posted by Pat Weiler on December 10, 1998 at 08:43:48:
Dear folks -
I came close to discribing this piece as (Ersari Tulu?). It does seems similar.
I have to admit, Pat, I've not been tempted to read deeply into Mr. Ganzhorn's book because, while doctoral theses have to come from somewhere and are a bit on the spot to stake out new ground, this one seems too fixated from the outset on its hypothesis. If I read him correctly, he wants to deny almost entirely Muslim influence in oriental rug design. It would be sufficient for him to say that perhaps Christian sources have been under-credited in most analyses but it seems to me that he behaves too much like a PhD candidate needing to be exceptionally iconoclastic. It does provide a great many color photos for $15, which is what I paid for it at a flea market awhile back.
Marvin, Mr. Sabahi puts up a number of images of rugs he calls "tulus" in his article without any indication of how old they might be or whether they might have been chemically washed or not. He does say that tulus with "medallion" designs are often more recent. Perhaps, the book, (I don't own it) says more. Since Mr. Sabahi and/or Alex Martin on his staff, seem to observe our conversations from time to time, perhaps we can encourage Mr. Sabahi to make a personal comment or two on your question and on this salon in general.
Regards,
John Howe
: : Dear folks -
: : (I neglected to send the next Ghereh image I want to share to Larry Joseph, last night but I'll write the image URL below and perhaps, since he should have it now, Larry can save me.)
: : On page 51 of Taher Sabahi's article on tulus, which I have been "mining" graphically for your pleasure is a simple lattice design that is a very good example of the effective use of a narrow color palette to enhance a simple design. Another simple rug that's not "simple." I am haunted by yesterday's ghostly image but I would like to own this one too.
: : This time the caption says: "This is another simple lattice design, rendered attractive as a result of the myriad tonalities into which the original bright red of the field has been transformed. There is no border as such, and the lattice stops a short distance from the selvedges. A snake image can be seen at the bottom. 136 x84 cm (4'6" x 2'9")
: : Hope it works,or if it doesn't that Larry can save me.
: : John Howe
: John, this is a very attractive, yet deceptively simple, rug.
: OK Class, everyone read Gantzhorn, The Christian Oriental Carpet, or it's new, subtly retitled second edition, The Oriental Carpet.
: Therein you will find an exhaustively researched (if not always accurately analysed) and comprehensive tome on the design history of similar lattices.
: Gantzhorn insists they are of Armenian origin.
: Eiland, Murray, in Oriental Rugs, discusses this simplified lattice design as the basis for Turkoman guls (gols).
: The Eiland question is did the design transfer from sedentary Turkoman tribes in Central Asia, or migrate from the (Turk) Seljuk, Konya area of the early 13th century.
: Eiland has a new Full Color (I would describe the illustrations as having been Opie-ated) edition of his seminal book Available Now At Finer Bookstores.