Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dimand, Maurice Sven; Jean Mailey. Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, distributed by New York Graphic Society, 1973. First edition. Large quarto. IX, [1], 353, [1]pp. Original pictorial dust-jacket over cloth, with gold lettering and decoration on spine and front cover. At once a comprehensive history of oriental rug weaving and a catalogue, this book provides an engrossing survey of the art and the craft, with data on one of the world’s great collections. From the earliest pile rugs known, preserved in ice in a Scythian burial mound of the 5th century B.C., the story is traced through the centuries by Maurice Sven Dimand, the Museum’s Curator Emeritus of Islamic Art. The beginnings include Egyptian weavings of the early Coptic period, Seljuk rugs produced in Asia Minor in the 13th century, and Mongol rugs, known to us only through their detailed representations in Chinese scroll paintings of the 13th century. The flowering of the art in Persia is richly represented here, with 53 examples ranging from the products of Turkoman looms in the 15th century, through the matchless creations of the Safavid court designers and weavers, to the kilims or tapestry rugs of the 19th century. Magnificent 16th and 17th century court rugs of the Ottomans are the highlights of the Turkish group, which includes as well a representative group from regional looms and the so-called Mamluk rugs made in Egypt. Complementing these presentations are chapters on the rugs of Mughal India, Muslim Spain, the Caucasus, and thr tribal weaves of Western Turkestan. A chapter by Jean Mailey offers an authoritative history of Chinese rugs and those of Chinese Turkestan. All of the Metropolitan’s rugs presented here (236) are shown in photographs of the complete piece, and in addition some of the most striking examples are shown in full color. Minor shelf wear, with slight creasing along edges of dust-jacket. DJ in overall good, binding in good+, interior in very good condition. g+. Hardcover. (37480) $45