"Admiral" Heraldic Carpet

Gallery 306, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

"Admiral" Heraldic Carpet

c. 1429-1473

Artist/maker unknown, Spanish, possibly woven by Muslim craftsmen

Shortly after the Muslims of North Africa introduced the art of making twisted-pile carpets into Spain, the weaving of this armorial carpet was undertaken. It was probably made for the founder of the royal house of Castile, Fadrique Enríquez, who held the titles of Lord of Medina and Admiral of Castile and was the grandfather of King Ferdinand of Spain. His coat of arms—an upright lion beneath two triple-towered castles bordered by anchors and ropes—is repeated three times in the center field. A decorative pattern in the main border at each end, formed by designs that resemble Arabic script, indicates its Mudéjar workmanship.

Gallery 306, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Object Details

Title:

"Admiral" Heraldic Carpet

Date:

c. 1429-1473

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Spanish, possibly woven by Muslim craftsmen

Medium:

Wool

Dimensions:

19 feet 3 inches × 15 feet 7 inches (586.7 × 475 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

The Joseph Lees Williams Memorial Collection, 1955

Accession Number:

1955-65-21

Geography:

Made in Spain, Europe

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Gallery 306, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

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