Antique Oushak / Ushak Turkish Rug, late nineteenth century
The exuberance, grace, and fantasy of classical oriental carpet design come alive on this magnificent antique Oushak. Four sinuous dragons rotate about the center of the rich apricot field, while above and below them winged lions pounce on larger fantastic creatures. In the monumental ivory border more animals prance across vines and palmettes rendered in the same soft greens and apricots of the field. The pictorial quality of the design is nicely balanced by the geometric abstraction of the drawing.
