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
Description:
205 by 135cm. 6ft. 8in. by 4ft. 5in.
Circa 1910
A Toussounian Silk and Metal Thread Prayer Rug Early 20th century
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
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
General Classification: Turkish Rug, Istanbul
MEASUREMENTS
104 by 131cm. 3ft. 5in. by 4ft. 4in.
DESCRIPTION
DATE OF OBJECT
First quarter 20th century