"Ornamental Lotto" Carpet

Unknown

early 17th century · Wool (warp, weft and pile); symmetrically knotted pile · Islamic Art

Carpets displaying this striking design of stylized vegetal arabesques in yellow on a red background are often called "Lottos," after a famous altarpiece by the Italian Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto that includes a similar textile. The motifs depicted in the center field here have additional hooks and curls that render the overall impression more decorative. "Ornamental Lottos" like this one commonly have a border containing a series of medallions with symmetrical patterns based on the split-palmette. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Lotto carpets became a popular motif in Dutch and Flemish painting. Artists depicted them on tables in domestic scenes, portraits, and, occasionally, still lifes, as a sign of wealth and good taste. .

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Wool (warp, weft and pile); symmetrically knotted pile

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

The James F. Ballard Collection, Gift of James F. Ballard, 1922