TWO RUGS DEPICTING THEODOR HERZL.

Bezalel School, Jerusalem. Early 20th century

The central panel of these two multi-colored machine pile weave chenille rugs depict Theodor Herzl leaning on a balcony overlooking a stream of pilgrims approaching the Old City of Jerusalem at sunrise. The border includes foliate patterns and a Star of David. One rug shows Herzl to the left, the other to the right

Immortal image, first derived from a photograph taken by E. M. Lilien during the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897. After appearing as an engraving by Hermann Struck, it came to be reproduced in every conceivable medium for more than a century. See: A. Felton, Jewish Carpets: A History and Guide (1997) p. 73; Yeshiva University Museum Catalogue, Theodor Herzl (1998) no.150