Fragment of a large pattern Holbein carpet, Anatolia, 16th century
wool pile on wool foundation
Museum für Islamische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
© Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource, NY
Although the carpet pattern dates from the thirteenth century, it was first represented by Italian artists in the 1470s. Most surviving examples and depictions have a single row of compartments. A staggered layout of two, one, and two compartments also existed. It does not seem to have been made with two rows of compartments, as in several of Memling's paintings.