armorial carpet

Very few of these so-called armorial carpets, like this one, exist. A uniquely Spanish type, this carpet was likely produced by Mudejar weavers in the South of Spain, possibly Letur or Murcia. Originating from Islamic traditions, the center of this carpet features an all-over octagon repeating pattern, and in the border, a continuous Arabic script style called Kufic. The writing, geometric precision, and skillful alternating of star, cross, and diamond motifs within the octagons illustrate the Mudejar’s continuation of Islamic visual language under Christian patronage. The Spanish elements within the design are notably represented in the six central armorial shields. The shields celebrate the union of Maria Enriquez de Luna and Giovanni di Borgia. Split in half, each receives three shields to display their family’s armorial crest. The rightmost shield, which includes a lion and two castles, belongs to Maria Enriquez and asserts her identity as a Castile.

Louise W. Mackie (Author), "Two Remarkable Fifteenth Century Carpets from Spain", Textile Museum Journal, Textile Museum Journal, Washington, D.C., 1977, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 17, fig. 2

Jessica Hallett (Co-Author) and Teresa Pacheco Pereira (Co-Author), The oriental carpet in Portugal : carpets and paintings, 15th-18th centuries, Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007, p. 57, cat. 1,p. 27, fig. 8.1 p. 28 fig. 9.1 (detail)

Carol Bier (Author), "Legacy of Collector George Hewitt Myers", Arts of Asia, Arts of Asia, Hong Kong, 1996, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 61, fig. 11

Florence Lewis May (Author), "Hispano-Moresque Rugs", Notes Hispanic, The Hispanic Society of America, New York, NY, 1945, vol. 5, p. 53-54, fig. 23, 24, 25

Louise W. Mackie (Author), Spain, Selections from the Textile Museum, Textile Museum, Washington, D.C., 1978, no. 1, no. 3 with color slide

Jessica Hallett (Co-Author) and Teresa Pacheco Pereira (Co-Author), The Oriental Carpet in Portugal: Carpets and Paintings, 15th-18th century, The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007, p. 57, cat. no. 1

Murray Eiland (Editor), A World of Oriental Carpets and Textiles, International Conference on Oriental Carpets, Washington, D.C., 2003, p. 18, fig. 16

Louise W. Mackie (Author), "Native and Foreign Influences in Carpets Woven in Spain during the 15th Century", HALI, HALI Publications, London, England, 1979, vol. 2, no. 2, p. 89, fig. 2

Charles Grant Ellis (Author), "Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art", Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 1988., p. 246, fig. 67a

May H. Beattie (Author), "The 'Admiral' Rugs of Spain: An Analysis and Classification of their Field Design", Oriental Carpet & Textile Studies II, Carpets of the Mediterranean Countries 1400-1600, Hali Publications, London, England, 1986, p. 277, fig. 4

Carpets of Andalusia, The Textile Museum, Washington DC, March 08, 2003 - August 10, 2003

Stars of Spain, The Textile Museum, Washington DC, March 31, 1978 - June 30, 1978

Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories, March 21, 2015 - August 24, 2015

Spain's Carpet Heritage, February 02, 1988 - October 16, 1988

The Oriental Carpet in Portugal, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, July 19, 2007 - November 18, 2007

Masterpieces in the Textile Museum, The Textile Museum, Washington DC, March 27, 1976 - September 30, 1976