Ararat Rugs’ revival of the historic Para-Mamluk Rug preserved in the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of The Joseph Lees Williams Memorial Collection, accession number 1955-65-2.
The design was studied from Charles Grant Ellis’s Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the original rug is illustrated on page 4.
Para-Mamluk carpets were woven in Anatolia by craftspeople trained in the carpet-making traditions of Mamluk Egypt. This rare design combines Anatolian weaving character with the disciplined geometry and intricate ornament associated with Mamluk carpets.
The composition follows a distinctive 2-1-2 arrangement of five medallions. A monumental octagonal medallion commands the centre of the crimson field, balanced by four smaller octagons at either end. Interlaced stars and bands, small cypress trees, stylized plant forms, reciprocal bud motifs and an elaborate floriated Kufesque ( Kufic ) border create remarkable visual depth and architectural balance.
Handwoven in Eastern Türkiye using traditional methods, this revival is expressed through six natural colours. Imperial Red and Dark Sienna are obtained from madder root; Emerald Green combines chamomile with indigo; and Pine Tree green is created using henna and indigo. Natural wool and cocoa-brown tones preserve the individual character of the sheep’s fleece.
This rug continues an important Anatolian design tradition while bringing the artistic language of a rare museum carpet into a contemporary interior.
DESIGN REFERENCE
Original: Para-Mamluk Rug
Collection: Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Joseph Lees Williams Memorial Collection
Accession number: 1955-65-2
Published in: Charles Grant Ellis, Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, page 4
DETAILS
Origin: Eastern Türkiye
Construction: Handwoven
Size: 172 × 250 cm / approximately 5 ft 8 in × 8 ft 2 in
Product code: ART00756
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This rug boasts a harmonious blend of 6 natural colors, each derived from traditional dyeing methods: Natural Wool Color 320: Specially Washed Cocoa Brown 109: Direct color of the sheep Imperial Red 415: Madder Root Dark Sienna 431: Madder Root Emerald Green 407: Chamomile - indigo Pine Tree 420: Henna - Indigo
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