Carpet with Dragon and Phoenix

This 15th-century carpet in the Museum of Islamic Art - Berlin, showing the battle of the dragon and the phoenix, is one of the most crucial animal carpets of the early Ottoman period that have become known to the present day. Two highly stylized animals, a dragon, and a phoenix, fight against a yellow background within two octagonal spaces. The phoenix is swooping down onto the dragon from above. The image is more apparent in the lower octagonal casing than in the upper. The outer border is composed of semi-palmette tendrils framed on both sides by an edging of little rosettes. The original border appears missing on both the left and right sides. It is possible that the carpet was originally more expansive in shape, featuring a more significant number of octagonal compartments. This would make it more akin to the animal carpets reproduced in paintings. The dragon and phoenix motif, which originated in China – where yellow was considered to be the color of the sovereign – was introduced into Islamic art in the AH 7th / AD 13th century with the arrival of the Mongols, as is demonstrated by its ubiquitous presence on several works of art, made in a variety of materials.

Color summary: 5 colors of total;

• Tawny Olive  538 (Dyer’s Weed - Madder Root)
• Imperial Red  415 (Madder Root)
• Dark Brown  316 (No Dye - Sheep’s Own Color)
• Gunmetal Blue  409 (Indigo)
• Natural Wool Color  320 (Specially Washed)

For more information about our Colors.