Rug

This rug was patterned after an imported example from Asia Minor. The central field depicts a garden resplendent with fountains, vases of flowers, and exotic trees, as well as birds, deer, and lions. While "garden" rugs are most often associated with Persia, the borders used here are not. Borders featuring repeating octagons are typically found on rugs from Turkey and the Caucasus. It is possible that the prototype of this rug was made in one of the regions of later production, even though a Persian central motif was utilized.

When Wendy and Emery Reves acquired this rug, it was attributed to the city of Valencia. A Mediterranean port north of Murcia, Valencia is known to have been producing rugs by the 17th century, but as yet none of them can be identified with certainty.

"Decorative Arts Highlights from the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection," page 33