Toussounian Koum Kapi Rugs

Turkish Toussounian Koum Kapi Rugs & Carpets

Toussounian is seen as a producer that commissioned rugs from a select group of the very best weavers. Red kilim ends with a white stripe running through it is the ‘signature’ of Toussounian rug. Especially interesting is the suggestion that Toussounian was a producer rather than a weaver.

Toussounian or Toussounian as some spell it was a late 19th and early 20th century Armenian weaving master in the Istanbul area. Toussounian drew heavily on Khorasani carpets of the second half of the 16th century. He used examples from the Top Kapi as well as the so-called Sanguzko type and the Chelsea Carpet for inspiration.

Examples:

A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910

A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910
A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910 5

Description:

205 by 135cm. 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 5in.

Circa 1910


A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug Early 20th century

A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug Early 20th century

A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910 2
A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910 3
A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug circa 1910 4

General Classification: Turkish Rug, Istanbul

MEASUREMENTS

169 by 131cm. 5ft. 6in by 4ft. 3in.

DESCRIPTION

DATE OF OBJECT

Early 20th century


Antique Silk and Metal Thread Kum Kapi Rug with Toussounian ‘signature’ early 20th century
Antique Silk and Metal Thread Kum Kapi Rug with Toussounian 'signature' early 20th century

General Classification: Turkish Rugs

Comments: The description mentions that red kilim ends with a white stripe running through it is the ‘signature’ of Toussounian rug. Especially interesting is the suggestion that Toussounian was a producer rather than a weaver. This is much like the role of the Seirafians in Isfahan.

MEASUREMENTS

204 by 135cm., 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 5in.

DESCRIPTION

early 20th century

The red kilim ends of this rug, with the white stripe running through it, are the ‘signature’ of Toussounian who has often been considered to be one of the most prolific of the master weavers of the Kum Kapi school. Recent scholarship has, however, cast doubt on whether Toussounian was a weaver at all, arguing that he was in fact a merchant who owned workshops and commissioned rugs from the most skillful Armenian weavers of Istanbul. It may be that the present rug is the work of the master weaver Hagop Kapoudjian, who is known to have produced a number of rugs for Toussounian, and is associated with the relatively thick pile and characteristic plum-red ground displayed by this example see Farrow, G., Hagop Kapoudjian, London, 1993.


Antique Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Rug 1st Quarter 20th century
Antique Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Rug 1st Quarter 20th century
Antique Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Rug 1st Quarter 20th century 2
Antique Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Rug 1st Quarter 20th century 3
Antique Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Rug 1st Quarter 20th century 4

General Classification: Turkish Rug, Istanbul

MEASUREMENTS

104 by 131cm. 3ft. 5in. by 4ft. 4in.

DESCRIPTION

DATE OF OBJECT

First quarter 20th century