SPAIN, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

The present carpet is an exquisite example of a group of rare Spanish weavings which are among the oldest knotted-pile carpets extant today. While it is possible that carpet weaving was introduced to Spain with the 8th century Moorish conquest of the Iberian peninsula, it is documented that a flourishing carpet industry existed in Spain by at least the 13th century. Early Spanish carpets were heavily influenced by Islamic design traditions and over time, with the continual reclaiming of Spain by Christians, European Gothic and Renaissance patterns were incorporated into carpets creating a distinct Spanish style. During the Muslim domination of Spain, Spanish carpets were appreciated throughout the Mediterranean and there appears to have been a healthy export market, especially to Egypt. From the thirteenth to fifteenth century with the Christian reconquest of Spain, the appreciation of these carpets shifted toward Europe as there was no other established carpet production in the Western world. Patronage for these carpets in the West came from both the wealthy nobility and the Church. It also appears that it was popular for individuals to pay homage to the church by making gifts of such carpets to chapels and convents. This carpet was a product of a commercial industry that appeared from the sixteenth century onwards. The distinctive palette consists of golden yellow, ivory, light and mid-blue. The designs were inspired by carpets from Anatolia which were available in Europe at that time but were extremely costly, see D. King, and D. Sylvester: The Eastern Carpet in the Western World, London, 1983, figs. 18-20. The original inspiration for the present design derives from sixteenth century Italian velvets which proved so influential in Turkey as well as Spain. For an Alcaraz rug of this design see Christie's, London, 29 April 2004, lot 240 (£47,800).