Virtual Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning: "From Ottoman Court Prayer Rugs to the 'Transylvanian' Group and Beyond"
Stefano Ionescu, Independent Scholar
Saturday, July 18
11am EDT
Join us online for a virtual edition of our Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning series. In this session, independent scholar Stefano Ionescu, will present new research focusing on various Ottoman Court prayer rugs.
The survival of several hundred 17th-century Anatolian rugs in Transylvania is a unique phenomenon due to a set of geographical, historical, religious and cultural conditions. To better understand the origin and design evolution of these so-called "Transylvanian" rugs, independent scholar Stefano Ionescu will present new research focusing on various Ottoman Court prayer rugs from the 16th-century, and their relationships to the Transylvanian group. He will explore visual and historical connections between the Ottoman examples and the art, architecture, and cultures of neighbouring areas from the Mediterranean to Persia, where Hellenistic, Byzantine, Mamluk, Islamic, and Ottoman influences flourished.
Special note on participant show-and-tell:
Many of our regular program attendees know that Rug and Textile Appreciation Mornings typically include a show-and-tell of textiles brought in by program participants. In order to simulate this experience virtually, we invite you to submit high-resolution photographs of pieces from your personal collections that fit this program’s theme. Please send high-resolution images to us at MuseumEd@gwu.edu no later than Thursday, July 16 to be considered for inclusion in the program (keep in mind we may not be able to accommodate them all).
About the Speaker
As an independent scholar on Oriental carpets, Stefano Ionescu has dedicated almost twenty years to the study of Anatolian rugs, starting with those which survived in Transylvania. Based in Rome, Italy, he has published extensively on the topic, including his award-winning book Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania. Since 2005 Stefano leads carpet study tours in Transylvania and other regions. Currently he is involved in a challenging program aiming to produce high quality replicas of 'Transylvanian' rugs.