Unusual, but not unusual

It is by no means unusual to find evidence of oriental art in European church treasures. A common example is early silk fabrics from the Near and Far East, which were used in medieval chasubles or to store precious relics. However, nothing is known about carpets in church treasures. What is certain is that Transylvania traded extensively with Turkey. Knotted carpets, already a coveted luxury item in Europe at the time, were part of this trade. From a surviving document from Kronstadt, we know that over 500 carpets reached the city in 1503 alone. There must have been thousands and thousands of carpets that were handled in Transylvania from the 15th century at the latest, perhaps even earlier. However, this does not explain why so many carpets were taken out of this cycle and used to decorate Christian churches of all places. Oriental carpets on church walls may remain a mystery, but as a decorative element they still lend a dignified setting to church festivities today.