Memling Gul Design Handmade Carpet

This eye catching handmade carpet is handknotted with pure wool pile and is a classic historical geometric design with an all-over field of distinctive medallions also named 'guls' derived from the Persian word meaning 'flower'. This geometric patterning in this carpet is derived from Fifteenth century Anatolian carpet motifs that stand the test of time. It has cheerful naturally vibrant colours which will add colour and historical design significance to diverse interiors.

What is a Memling Gul Design?

This handknotted carpet is handcrafted in Afghanistan takes it's design vocabulary from historical Anatolian carpets. During the Fifteenth century Anatolian Carpets and rugs were exported across Italy and Northern Europe and became popular with the artistic elite, wealthy and those with high status. Rugs were often depicted in paintings of high regard; both secular and non-secular. The detailed geometry of carpets depicted in paintings also highlighted the expertise of the painters' perspective and trompe d'oeil skills. Painters as Crivelli, Lotto, Holbein and Hans Memling often depicted rugs and carpets in their art works. Hans Memling ( 1430 -1494) was reknowned for including Eastern geometric carpets of the time in his paintings. You see can similar distinctive polygonal medallion guls in his depiction of 'Madonna and Child Enthroned'. Over time in Western culture these Turkish carpets designs have taken a design 'namesake' from the painters that revered them too. Hence the names 'Holbein Carpets' and 'Lotto Carpets' join the 'Memling Gul' with similar stories. 

What are the Colour Combinations of this Handmade Piece?

Joyous colours of rust red, sky blues, as well as navy blues form the alluring colour palette of this magnificent carpet. You can also discover forest greens, oranges, golden ochres as well as cream detailing. This carpet is truly a treasure of captivating colours, historical significance, and art history too! The geometric border has a traditional leaf and calyx meandering pattern with a blue background. The highly geometricised minor borders have a lively interplay between the dark blue and white detailing. 

How is this Carpet Created?

This carpet is created by skilled artisan spinners, dyers and weavers. The handspun wool is dyed with natural vegetable dyes which gives a real beauty of tonality as well as a harmonious blend of primary and secondary hues. The dyed pure wool yarn is knotted by hand onto the cotton warps which are set up on a horizontal loom. The weavers tied two warp threads together to form the pile. Inbetween each row of knots, weft threads are woven across the width of the carpet. When the carpet it completed it is taken off the loom with various finishing processes; washing, cutting of the pile, binding weft threads to form the sides and  the warp threads knotted to form the visible fringes. 

Key Details

• Country of Origin: Afghanistan
• Dimensions: 242 x 174cm / 7'11" x 5'9"
  
• Thickness: 7mm
• Pile: Wool, Handknotted.
• Warp: Cotton
• Age: New