Bergama

This western Anatolian rug was woven close to the Aegean coast near the site of what many archaeologists consider to be the site of ancient Troy. Though this is a nineteenth century piece, the composition and drawing can be traced to seventeenth century Turkish interpretations of medallion carpets emanating from further east in northwest Persia. The geometric ornament including Memling guls and eight-pointed stars in octagon are favorites of Turkish village weavers and the madder derived red ground characteristic of pieces from the northwest of Anatolia.