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Everything about this rug – the heavy handle, tiny
border, spaciousness, and powerful design – suggests it is probably
the oldest piece in the exhibition, although how old it is
impossible to say. The design is an archaic prototype for one
commonly seen in much later rugs, although with a change: the camel
field seen here as a negative background between the toothed
elements becomes in later rugs a positive, dark lattice that
contains and separates the toothed elements. Although they are
difficult to determine in the photo, a few remaining spots of side
finish confirm that the original border was no wider than seen here.
Publication: Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections, pl. 315, Hali
62 p. 99
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