West Anatolia (Turkey), c. 336 (340) x 200 cm, 16th/17th century, symmetrical knot, unlayered, V 40, H 30 = c. 1,200 kts/dm2, single-weft, ivory-coloured warp and weft wool, lazy lines. So-called “bird ushaks” are among the best known, white-ground Selendi carpets. They owe their name to their characteristic bird-like field pattern, which is in fact a syrga motif. There are probably only about a hundred pieces from this rare group still in existence anywhere in the world today, and those in this large format remain in the single digits. One fragment measuring c. 362 x 212 cm, formerly in the Wilhelm Bode Collection, is preserved in the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna. One specimen (c. 490 x 240 cm) is at the Bargello Museum in Florence and the largest example (c. 527 x 247 cm) in Assisi. Carpets from this group can be found in European art, e.g. in paintings by Hans Mielich in the 16th century, Alessandro Varotari and Peter Candid in the 17th century. In the present piece, the projections of the characteristic cloudband border unusually point inwards, and only in the upper finish are the heads turned towards the outside. In superb wool quality with deep pile, original side edges, some darned areas and kilim finish preserved at top, this carpet is in excellent condition. With 7 colours and 4 vertical “bird rows”, in superb colour arrangement and nuanced design. This piece is also among the most finely knotted of its kind. Age-related edge damage, corroded brown and reduced lower finish.

Provenance:
Austrian Private Collection, according to a written statement issued by the owner and an engraving executed by the war correspondent J. J. Vogel, this carpet might date back to the Turkish War of 1683.

Published:
TKF, exhibition catalogue of the International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) Tour Vienna- Budapest 2014, plate 4.

Further reading:
Stefano Ionescu, Die osmanischen Teppiche i. Siebenbürgen, pp. 55-56, ill.: 55-65; Angela Völker, Die orientalischen Knüpfteppiche im MAK, pl. 20; John Stoye, Die Türken vor Wien - Schicksalsjahr 1683.

We are grateful to Prof. Ferdi Besim and the owner for their mutual agreement to offer the carpet at this auction.


Note by the owner
THE HISTORY OF THE ‘BIRD’ USHAK (Selendi)

Eighty or ninety years ago, a friend of my great-grandfather came to our home, which our family has owned for centuries. He was the last descendant or relative of the Counts Schärffenberg. He asked my great-grandfather if he could stay in our home for a little while, as Hohenwang Castle in the district of Langenwang im Mürztal was in need of repair. This friend of my great-grandfather’s died here in our home after many of years of hospitality. One of the items he left behind was an old carpet.

My great-grandmother had this carpet dyed red. It was tradition that an altar was erected in front of our house for the Feast of Corpus Christi. My great-grandmother needed a red carpet for this altar. This red carpet was spread out in front of this altar to mark Corpus Christi for more than fifty years.

The friend of my great-grandfather, who had brought this carpet into our house from his castle, told the following story:

While Vienna was besieged by the Turks in 1683, the Castle Governor was Count Schärffenberg. He played a substantial role in defending Vienna against the Turks. As the liberating army, led by the Polish King Sobieski, forced the Turks to flee, both King Sobieski and Castle Governor Count Schärffenberg plundered the tent of Kara Mustapha, head of the Turkish army. Count Schärffenberg took this Bird Ushak for himself, and brought it to his castle in Hohenwang, where it remained until it was brought into our house by the last relative of the Schärffenberg family. The dye was removed* from the carpet in Frankfurt am Main, which was then presented at an Austro-Hungarian carpet conference in Vienna’s Künstlerhaus.

*(the carpet has once more been professionally washed before the present auction)