A very unique carpet, this is an early to mid 19th century version of a very famous 16th century Spanish Alcaraz carpet currently in the Textile Museum.

A Phoenix rises from the ashes, surrounded by wreaths. The scull & bones motifs in the original have been replaced here by statue heads (Socrates??).

The latin inscriptions (in mirror image) read, EXEMPT I[PS]O RENIASCOR, “From myself I am reborn” and VICTORIA DOCTIS, “Victory to the learned.”

A very unique piece of art, one wonders why it was commissioned and by whom, but was produced by Toduk, the master re-intrepritor of classic carpets.