Museum of Islamic Art Berlin Checkerboard Rug

The Museum of Islamic Art Berlin Checkerboard Rug

The faded areas are old repairs. But the original areas are complete enough to get a clear idea of the rug. My initial reaction is to guess that the Museum of Islamic Art Berlin Checkerboard Rug is a later rug. What do I mean by later? Keep in mind the Mamluk empire fell to the Ottoman in 1517. So I feel this rug is more Ottoman in style which puts this well into the Ottoman period. But keep in mind later could be circa 1650 maybe even 1600.

Why do I think it is later. My visceral reaction is primarily because of the Arabesque leaves. Now I have to research more to see if the facts bear out my initial reaction. Do Arabesque leaves give a valid criteria for dating. 

Compare this to the The Mouncey Checkerboard Rug

I think this is typical of what I am seeing as the older type. It is also what we see in a number of other rugs including the McMullan Checkerboard Rug in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Schürmann Checkerboard Rug.

The McMullan Checkerboard Rug Detail

Not a great image but I suspect that the McMullan Checkerboard Rug is the oldest one here. It makes me anxious to see more examples. 

The Museum of Islamic Art Berlin Checkerboard Rug

Chessboard carpet, Ottoman-Egyptian. Late 16th-early 17th century, 415 x 217 cm. Donated by Wilhelm von Bode, 1905. State Museum of Berlin, Museum of Islamic Arts, inv. no. I. 14. 

The Museum of Islamic Art Berlin Checkerboard Rug images are the Felix Elwert images.

https://www.rugrabbit.com/content/rugs-and-carpets-museum-islamic-art-berlin