Double-Ended Bellini Carpet
Unknown Artist
probably late 18th century
Medium
Wool (warp, weft, and pile); symmetrically knotted pile
Dimensions
H. 79 3/4 in. (202.6 cm) W. 61 1/2 in. (156.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Rugs
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Joseph V. McMullan, 1973
Accession Number
1974.149.26
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, theDouble-Ended Bellini* is a captivating example of late 18th-century textile mastery. Woven from wool in warp, weft, and pile using the symmetrically knotted technique—typical of Ottoman Turkish traditions—this rug measures an impressive 79 3/4 by 61 1/2 inches (202.6 by 156.2 cm), large enough to anchor a grand room. The "double-ended" design suggests a reversible or symmetrically balanced composition, allowing the intricate patterns to shine from either orientation, a practical and aesthetic innovation for nomadic or pr...