Carpets from Islamic Lands: The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait

A handsome book, this work is important for scholars. . . . Recommended.

Formerly a curator at the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, Dr Friedrich Spuhler is the author of numerous books on Islamic textiles and carpets, including Carpets from Islamic Lands and Pre-Islamic Carpets and Textiles from Eastern Lands.

Preface by Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah . Acknowledgments . Introduction: The 2,500-Year History of Oriental Carpets . PART I PRE- CLASSICAL CARPETS Chapter 1: Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Carpets . Carpets from the Sasanian period . The early Islamic pre-classical period . PART II CLASSICAL CARPETS Chapter 2: Egypt . Mamluk carpets . Chessboard carpets . Chapter 3: Turkey . Seljuq carpets . Anatolian animal carpets . Ottoman carpets . "Holbein" and "Lotto" carpets . Star Ushak and Medallion Ushak carpets . Multiple-niche carpets (saff) and prayer carpets . Early village rugs from Anatolia . "Transylvanian" carpets . Late prayer rugs and their reception in Western collections . Chapter 4: Persia: Safavid carpets: the workshops . Safavid carpets: dating . Safavid carpets: pattern types . Compartment carpets . Medallion carpets Vine-scroll carpets . Vase carpets . Garden carpets . Safavid velvets . Chapter 5: Caucasus . Dragon and flower carpets . Chapter 6: India . Mughal carpets: pattern groups . Vine- scroll carpets . Floral garden carpets . Animal carpets