Ecuadorian Carpet

Designed by Olga Fisch

Quito, Ecuador

Middle 20^th century, c. 1960

Symmetrically knotted wool pile on a wool foundation.

The “Nazca Lines” are ancient Peruvian, but they have inspired the drawing on this Moderne New World carpet. The vast majority of Ecuadorian carpets display active, schematic human figures and animals, generally in dark tones contrasting with cream, borderless grounds. This is the only known carpet by this designer executed in a totally abstract, minimalist manner. 

There are three bent, wiry, black lines creating an open “Y” shape, with bull’s eye circles and long traces, in coral or goldenrod, on the beige ground. The wiry lines do not touch the sides except in one case. This results in a palpable tension between the thin, dynamic lines and the more accepting, passive larger ground.  The exact criteria defining this unique carpet as Ecuadorian in origin and designed by Olga Fisch are subtle, but clear upon their being pointed out. Olga Fisch (1901-1990) was trained in Bauhaus minimalism, but the continuing shop carries a wider variety of rugs, textiles, arts and crafts from over 30,000 Ecuadorians. This carpet is obviously a special commission, with none of the anecdotal crowds of figures and animals. There are no other examples with similar designs and different colorways. All Olga Fisch carpets are executed on wool foundations. This example is particularly large for an Olga Fisch piece, most running about nine feet by twelve, another sign, if any more were needed, this this is an exceptional, very special weaving.