Hi all,
Yohann has recently drawn my attention to a very interesting paper by M.S. Dimand («Two fifteenth Century hispano-moresque Rugs», published by the MET Art Bulletin). Dimand discusses, next to other Spanish rug types, the large Holbein carpets and joins forces with the partisans of an Anatolian origin of the motif. Unfortunately, he does stop short of sharing any conclusive evidence with us.
(The highlights in following citation are mine).
«...Actually, these Anatolian
precursors were admired in Europe well before Holbein’s Period as we know from their appearance in Europe in painting’s by Italian, Flemish and Spanish masters of the fifteenth century..».
«....In the McIlhenny Collection in Philadelphia Museum of Art is an important Anatolian rug the closest known
prototype of the third variety of Spanish Holbein....»
«..Although the field patterns of the Anatolian rugs, as represented in the paintings, are similar in many ways to those of the Spanish rugs, certain details of the ornament, including the different borders
make their Turkish origin a certainty...»
Besides, Dimand mentions a typical border motif of Al Andalus production, called the «scorpion», which is found in many Spanish «Holbein» rugs (FIG.) and also states that «..The Spanish large Holbein rugs all show a field divided into large squares enclosing octagons, with spandrels of the squares filled with either a checkerboard pattern or interlacing....»
Best regards
Pierre