Antique Karabagh rug with "Memling" Guls, Kalbajar district (Javanshir uyezd), Western Karabagh, Azerbaijan. c 1880-1890. Size: 140x235cm (4'7"x7'8"). Condition: full and original pile condition, center of the field has relatively lower pile. purchased from Bausback Antike Orreinteppiche in the 70's. In 2009, it was seen at Rippon Boswell & Co. International Auctioneers of Rare Carpets & Textiles www.azerbaijanrugs.com/guide/karabagh/moghan/antique_caucasian_karabagh_... Design: The medallions of the central field reflect one of the most archaic carpet motifs of Central Asian origin, the so-called "Memling Gül". This motif appears in a number of early European depictions of oriental carpets; for example, on the reverse of the eponymous late 15th century panel portrait of a young man by German-born, Netherlandish painter Hans Memling (1430/5-1494) in Madrid is painted a still life in which a vase of flowers rests on a small carpet with similar medallions. SOLD