Lot 153
Bezalel Rug – Seven-Branch Candelabra and the Tablets of the Law – Jerusalem, 1906-1914
Pictorial rug depicting a seven-branch candelabra and the Tablets of the Law, made at Bezalel. Jerusalem, [1906 to 1914]. Wool knot-pile; cotton foundation. The central panel – the outline of which echoes that of the Tablets of the Law – displays an Art Nouveau-style candelabrum with intertwined branches, a familiar design by early Bezalel artists. Stylized base, decorated with Stars of David and 'Zion' monograms; the same inscription repeats in the border. The Tablets of the Law appear within the candelabrum's main shaft, with the word 'Zion' once again in the background. The entire central panel is strewn with small seven-branch candelabras. Signed "Bezalel Jerusalem" in the border.
104x133cm. Good condition. Minor damage. Some staining. Fringes trimmed. Somewhat misshapen. Straps sewn to upper and lower edge, on verso.
Literature: 1. Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997, p. 95. 2. Gereh International Carpet and Textile Review, Issue 12, June 1997, p. 8. Provenance: The Anton Felton Collection.
