Memling rug

Wool warp and weft, wool Ghiordes knotting approx. 500 knots/dm2
The red field is decorated with three differently coloured octagons, each containing a "Memling gol". The main, brown-based border stripe is decorated with tierced rectangles. The red outer stripe shows connected Z-motifs. The carpet is a nomad "Yoruk" piece, preserving medieval traditions. The octagons decorating the centre were probably tribal symbols ("gols") originally. Similar rugs appeared in the pictures of Hans Memling, hence the special name used in literature. In 17th-18th century Hungary, oriental carpets used to decorate first of all aristocratic and wealthy middle class homes, as well as churches. In the period of Rococo and Classicism, European carpets were more popular because they followed the fashionable trends of the age. In the 19th century, the "cult" of oriental carpets returned. Rich, well-furnished homes had to possess oriental carpets in Hungary. Drawing and dining rooms were generally equipped with large Iranian carpets, while gentlemen's rooms were decorated with darkly coloured once from Central Asia. The demand for smaller Turkish rugs, however, started to fall they were mainly used as decoration for the "oriental corner" of the house.