A Marbadiah Wool Carpet with Rhomboid Medallion and Vine Motifs, Jerusalem, 1923

Established in Jerusalem in 1920 as an independent offshoot of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, the Marbadiah (also spelled Marvadiah) workshop represents one of the most creative chapters in the development of Jewish decorative arts in the early twentieth century. Established under the direction of Shmuel Ben David, Abraham Bar-Adon, and Yaakov Kontrovich, all distinguished designers associated with Bezalel, Marbadiah sought to produce high-quality carpets rooted in Jewish themes while drawing on the stylistic languages of Art Nouveau, Persian weaving, Middle Eastern ornament, and ancient Mediterranean mosaics. Although financial uncertainty forced the closure of the workshop in 1924, it reopened later that year and continued to operate until 1931. Rugs from this short but fertile period are prized today for their expressive design, technical refinement, and rarity.

The present rhomboid-medallion carpet is a superb example of Marbadiah’s ambition to create distinctively Jewish rug design. Its entire composition celebrates the imagery of vines, tendrils, and abundant grape clusters—motifs deeply rooted in the visual and spiritual vocabulary of Judaism. Here, 260 grape clusters spiral through the field and medallions, arranged in scrolling patterns, tight lattices, and repeating border sequences. While Islamic carpets avoid wine symbolism altogether, and Jewish tradition warns against excess, grapes and wine nonetheless hold a central place in Jewish ritual life. This carpet transforms those themes into a jubilant expression of blessing, fruitfulness and plenty.

The vast decorative program is handled with exceptional artistic control. In the main border, meandering vines bear heavy clusters of grapes flanked by elegant pairs of facing deer, while the outer border introduces classical motifs of peacocks and urns. The palette—muted, harmonious, and deliberately antique in tone—evokes both the ancient mosaics being uncovered in the region during the 1920s and the refined natural-dye traditions of earlier Oriental weaving.

This carpet stands as a milestone in the early effort to define a modern Jewish decorative art in the Land of Israel. Its combination of Bezalel-inspired craftsmanship, Marbadiah’s signature originality, and richly symbolic iconography places it among the most compelling textiles produced in Jerusalem during this formative period.

336 x 243 cm. (11' x 8 '); original Marbadiah tag still attached to the back of the carpet

PROVENANCE

Formerly in the collection of Anton Felton, noted scholar of Jewish carpets.

LITERATURE

Jewish Carpets: A History and Guide (Oriental Rugs Series) by Anton Felton. England:1997 Published by the Antique Collectors' Club. no. 50, p. 119