A Viennese Jungendstil carpet,
Austria, circa 1900.
11ft 4in x 8ft 3in : 345cm x 251cm
The design is in the style of Julius Orendi and was produced by Joh.Backhausen and Sohne of Vienna. This progressive company were primarily manufacturers of textiles after notable designers of the time; Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffman and Otto Wagner among others.
The term Jugendstil is German for young style, which was a period between 1895-1910, in alignment with the Art Nouveau era and style. The design shows influences taken from the Arts & Crafts and the Aesthetic Movements, with the Japanese inspired floral details.
It is unusual to find a carpet of this nature with a full and enlarged design; typically they were made with an open field and just having corner motifs which are less interesting in our opinion and of no interest to us.
Literature:
Fiona Leslie, Contemporary Rugs, Merrell, London, 2002, illustrated, page 13.