Author: Volkmar Gantzhorn
Publisher: Taschen
Year: 1998
Language: English
Pages: 532
ISBN/UPC (if available): 3822805459
Description
This publication traces and analyses the art of the oriental carpet over a period of two and a half thousand years. The author’s research has resulted in completely new contextual insights amounting to nothing less than a revision of the history of the oriental carpet. He has been able to trace patterns back to Phrygian and other traditions, which survived in the work of Armenian craftsmen up to the beginning of our won century: carpets as symbols of power and as deeply religious abstract textile icons.
The oriental carpet is neither of nomadic origin, nor do its origins lie in central Asia; it is a product of ancient oriental civilizations in the Armenian uplands at the crossroads of the oldest trade routes between west, north and south. The author’s assertion is supported by an unprecedented wealth of full-coloured illustrations showing the finest and most important examples of the art of the carpet. The illustrations include book illumination, paintings, decorative arts and architectural details and elucidate previously unknown developments.
This work documents what is probably Armenia’s greatest contribution to cultural history.
REVIEW
Oriental Carpets is an academic milestone for better understanding of a highly interesting subject in the history of cultural anthropology. Both scientifically and visually the work is breathtaking.
-Arpa Foundation for Film, Music & Art, Los Angeles
Contents
FOREWORD BY ROBERT BARTLETT HAAS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART ONE: FROM THE BEGINNINGS TO THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
The Pazyryk Carpet and the Emergence of the Knotted-Pile Carpet
Traditional Designs
THE CHRISTIAN ORIENTAL CARPET
The Beginnings: Carpet Pages
Early Fragments
A: THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES
Carpet-Group A I
Carpets with Cross-Block Borders
Carpet-Group A II
Carpets with Pseudo-Kufic borders
Carpet-Group A III
Coffered-Form Medallion Carpets
B. THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
Carpets in European Painting
Carpets in Armenian and Syrian Painting
Carpets in Chinese-Sung Dynasty Painting
Carets in Islamic Painting
Carpet-Group BI
Holbein Carpet Prototypes
Carpet-Group B II
Coffered-Form Medallion Carpets II
Large-Patter (LP) Holbein Carpets
Carpet-Group B III
Damascus/Mamluk Carpets I
Carpet-Group B IV
Paramamluk Carpets
Chessboard Carpets
Carpet-Group B V
Spanish Carpets
PART TWO: FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES TO MODERN TIMES
The Historical Situation
THE CHRISTIAN ORIENTAL CARPET II
C-FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES TO THE 18TH CENTURY
Carpet-Group C I
Cross-Star Carpets-Eastern Design Groups
Carpet-Group C II
Small-Pattern (SP) Holbein Carpets
Carpet-Group C III
Lotto Carpets
CARPET-GROUP C IV
CROSS-STAR CARPETS-WESTERN DESIGN GROUPS
Carpet-Group C IV a
Star-Ushak Carpets I
Carpet-Group C IV b
Star-Ushak Carpets II
Carpet-Group C IV c
Star-Ushak Carpets III
Carpet-Group C IV d
Medallion-Ushak Carpets
CARPET-GROUP C V
DIAMOND-FORM CROSS CARPETS AND STEP-FORM CROSS CARPETS
Carpet-Group C V a
Memling Gul Carpets
Carpet-Group C V b
Step-Form Cross Carpets And Diamond-Form Cross Carpets
Carpet-Group C V c
Dragon Carpets
Carpet-Group C V d
Flowering-Cross Carpets-Sunburst Carpets
Carpet-Group C V e
Ghirlandaio Carpets
Carpet-Group C VI
Bergama Coffered-Form Carpets
Carpet-Group C VII
Damascus/Mamluk Carpets
Carpet-Group C VIII
North-west Persian Medallion Carpets
Cross-Star Carpets
East Armenian Design Groups
Carpet-Group C IX a
Carpets from New Julfa/Isfahan
Carpet-Group C IX b
Carpets from South-western Persia, the Fars Region and the Afshani and Qashqai Territories
Carpet-Group C X
Carpets from Central Asia I-Turkoman Carpets
Carpet-Group C XI
Carpets from Central Asia II
Carpets of the Uzbeks, the Kirghizes and the Oasis Towns of East Turkestan
CARPET-GROUP C XII
ARCH-FORM CARPETS-PARADISE-GATE CARPETS
CARPET-GROUP C XII a
Columned Arch-From Carpets I
Multi-Column Ladik Carpets
Carpet-Group C XII b1
Columned Arch-Form Carpets II
Cairene Carpets
Carpet-Group C XII b2
Columned Arch-Form Carpets III
Transylvanian Niche-Form Carpets
Carpet-Group C XII c
Arch-Form Carpets IV-Bellini Type
Carpet-Group C XII d
Multiple-Arch Carpets
SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
ABBREVIATIONS
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY