The following is a complete listing of our Antique and Semi-antique rugs and carpets in current stock. They are arranged in order of size, starting with the smallest.
Each and every piece has been personally and carefully selected, based on 45 years of experience buying Antique rugs. I only buy exceptional pieces in perfect or near perfect condition, preferably untouched by restoration, alterations, heavy wear, artificial "antique wash" treatments or any other interference that would negatively effect value.
The quality must be top end, as must be artistic merit, visual appeal and, ideally, a degree of relative rarity within its group.
Click on images to enlarge. More images of each lot available upon request.
This section updated 6/3/2021.
A very pretty little rug with good, natural colours, excellent wool and free of repairs. The side cords have been oversewn in places. A nice thing for a wall, or anywhere, at a price of a small water colour painting.
€SOLD
Jozan is the most important rug weaving village in the fertile valley well known for its raisins as well as their fine rugs. According to the Swedish specialist dealer Peter Willborg, locals say the special water quality of the area imparts an extra lustre and softness to its wool. This little gem of a rug, very finely knotted at 255/sq inch has a rich sheen from its glossy pile, all dyed with natural dyes. The main border features the grapevine design, unique to the area.
In excellent, untouched and original condition throughout, this rug has probably never been on the floor, perhaps instead displayed on a wall or maybe even carefully stored away in rug chests, taken out only when distinguished visitors required appropriate seating.
€1200
One of two recently acquired little beauties, both in excellent condition throughout. This example features a knot density of 306/sq inch. For further info on this piece, click Current Stock, then Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€SOLD
A beautifully woven example of the now very rare pictorial pieces woven in the late 19th C. Usually such pieces depict previous Persian rulers or other persons of historical importance; more unusually you see religious scenes such as this Madonna & Child image. The signature panel at the top reads "Maryam and Isa", Mary and Jesus. In perfect condition throughout with full pile, no repairs, original sides and ends.
€SOLD
The rugs woven in Bidjar town and surrounding villages are among the most densely packed, robust a pieces woven in Persia. The 2-3 wefts are packed extremely heavily, yielding a weave so tight that it's hard to roll an old Bidjar. Another characteristic is the often slightly crooked shape, due to the primitive type of wooden looms described by Cecil Edwards in his 1950's work The Persian Carpet.
This high quality "poushti" or seating mat has a knot count of 225/sq inch, in perfect condition with original ends and sides. Natural dyes, no repairs, ready to use as a lovely wall hanging or floor rug.
€SOLD
Few early 20th century Teherans surface in the international trade, never having been made in large numbers and usually bought up by wealthy buyers from the city. Similar to Kashans and Sarouks, Teherans usually feature a lovely pale sky blue colour, together with a warm apricot yellow and reds dyed from cochineal as well as madder.
This very pretty, finely woven rug with a knot count of 320/sq inch features a high quality lambs' (kurk) wool with a sheen often mistaken for silk. In excellent condition throughout, repair free, ready to go either as a beautiful wall hanging or on the floor in elegant surroundings.
€SOLD
A very pretty Baluch rug with glowing, warm colours and lanolin rich wool, drawn in the traditional style of the Baluchi from the Torbat-e-Haidari. The pile is slightly low in places showing minor spot wear, there are a couple of minor repairs to the elaborate end kilims and side cords but generally it's in good shape throughout. Would make a lovely wall hanging!
€SOLD
Finely woven, small rugs around 1 meter square were woven by several Turkoman tribes. They are usually well above average in terms of quality, choice of wool and dyes, suggesting they were woven for a special purpose. The strongest theory is that they were given to the bride upon which she would sit, receive well wishers and accept dowry and gifts.
Several other examples are published, a very similar piece shown at the London exhibition by Bernheimer, Oriental Carpets and Textiles, 1987, plate 37. This example is in perfect, original condition throughout, incl kilims, side cords and full pile, free of repairs.
€2200
This beautiful, and unusual, Tekke "Bokhara" rug has spent most of its life to date on the wall - on this image you can see the stitch for the back webbing along the top kilim end. Probably never walked on, it is in totally original, untouched condition throughout with full pile, original side cords and complete kilims, woven on a warp of wool and goats' hair, free of repairs. A rare feature is the variance in design along the top and bottom end border, something you normally associate with the "ensi" group of Turkoman tribal rugs. A gem!
€SOLD
A finely woven rug with a design and colouring often found in the Saveh region of Hamadan. The Maine rug dealer Tad Runge in his work One Woman One Weft illustrates several pieces of similar appearance and technical specifications - plates 31-35.
Good natural colours, in full pile throughout, original sides and ends present, only a couple of minute spot repairs, this rug has been well looked after by previous caretakers including wall display for the last 11 years. A decorative, attractive and inexpensive village rug from a region where nothing of note or quality has been woven for many decades.
€1850
Rug weaving in Abadeh is merely over a century old, inspired by the weavings traded in the bazaars by the various tribal groups passing through. Old examples were well made with good, natural colours and properly spun wool. The design seen here is known as "Zil-i-Soltan", a complex all over composition featuring vases filled with exotic flowers. In excellent condition throughout.
€1600
The finely knotted, high quality rugs from Jozan are renowned for their glossy wool and excellent colours. Similar to rugs from nearby Sarouk they mainly come in medallion designs, woven with double wefts but using the symmetric knot.
Jozans are hard wearing, long lasting rugs that will survive for generations if cared for properly. This charming piece of a slightly unusual size was acquired from a Swedish collection, kept in near perfect condition by its previous custodian. Note the lovely use of sky blue rosettes against the dark field colours. The late Stockholm dealer Peter Willborg illustrates a very similar example on pl 29 in his book Hamadan.
€2400
Ensi was a dowry rug woven with the specific purpose of covering the open tent door in a Yomut yurt (tent) during the wedding festivities. Usually finely woven, these beautiful rugs were never in use on the ground for as long as they remained as family dowry heirlooms, perhaps only displayed on the wedding anniversary. This beautiful, early example with its bold "eagle" border end panels is in excellent condition throughout, full pile showing no wear, original ends and much of the side-cords (one side has been partly rebound but as original). One of the best Yomut Ensis I have come across in a while, ex Swedish private collection.
€SOLD
At first glance this highly decorative rug is clearly a Baluch weaving, until you look more closely at certain weave, dye and design features. Kurdish and Baluch groups lived and migrated in close proximity in this area and often "borrowed" rug design ideas from each other. Kurdish features in this rug include the use of brown wool and goats' hair in the structure, the very elaborate kilim ends usually seen around the Kurdish rugs from Quchan, plus the subtle use of a lovely green colour rarely seen in true Baluch rugs. In very good condition showing only slight, overall wear plus some minute repairs to the kilim ends.
€1900
A charming rug of a well documented group with good, natural colours, lanolin rich wool and solid workmanship. In very good condition with near full pile throughout, original side cords and end finishes. Some minor securements to the kilim ends and overbinding in spots on side cords have been undertaken since photography.
Ref: T. Runge, One Woman One Weft, Pl. 21
€1150.-
A beautiful piece of the distinctive Bordjalou group, featuring a very rare green field (first example I can recall seeing), also clearly dated AH 1322 equals AD 1904. Note the unusual feature of a human figure in the small center lozenge. In good condition for its age with slightly low but even pile, original sides and only marginal loss at each short end, all secured. For further info on this piece, click Current Stock, then Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€6400
A lovely example of the ivory ground all-over design village rugs from Kuba, finely woven on woolen foundation at a density of 120/sq inch. Now cleaned and secured around short ends and sides, most of which are 100% original. Free of repairs other than outer securements. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions and scroll down.
€SOLD
A highly decorative Baluch piece with an unusual design, showing strong Turkoman influence in its use of Gul motifs down the centre. The border is also unusual, featuring a large variety of enclosed motifs without the usual vine or meander form. It also features small details in magenta silk pile so clearly the rug was made for a special occasion, most probably for dowry or wedding gift.
Purchased from a Swedish collection, the rug is in excellent condition, showing only small spots of slight surface wear, the original sides and kilim ends intact.
€2400
A beautiful, truly tribal piece woven by the Avshar tribe, on wool foundation and a high knot count of 144/sq inch approx. Glorious natural colours and a charming, quirky design, clearly woven "freestyle". In very good condition with its original side cords intact and no loss at the ends other than the original kilims strands. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€SOLD
A typical Baluch piece with a lattice grid of "mina khani" flowers inside a powerful border, woven in high quality lanolin rich wool at a high knot count of around 145/sq inch. In near perfect condition apart from small spots of slight surface wear, the original side cords and end kilims present, free of repair. Ex a Swedish collection where it has been unused for two decades.
€2200
A beautiful 19th C Baluch rug of great character, originality and presence. The narrow outlining in brown has corroded slightly, creating a relief effect in the design that you often see in really old examples. The general pile is still very good, meaning the rug can well be used on the floor. The end kilims are beautifully woven, the lower one showing some minor damage which has since been restored. Original side cords and no other repairs. For a vaguely related example, see J. Boucher - Baluch rugs, pl. 11.
€2500
A robust, tightly knotted and decorative "Bokhara" rug, in excellent condition throughout apart from missing 2-3 knot rows at each short end. Antique "Bokhara" rugs are increasingly difficult to find, still in the top ratings for furnishing purposes where they tend to sit comfortably both in classical and contemporary settings.
€1750.-
This wonderful rug is a classical example of the elegant pieces woven in this region towards the end of the 19th C. Exceptional quality, woven on wool foundation with a knot count of 269/sq inch, in perfect condition throughout apart from some minor, professionally executed, repairs to some corners, in full pile with original sides and strands of original kilims present. For further info on this piece click Recent Acquisitions and scroll down.
€6800
This stunning rug is a great example of vintage Persian understanding of design and harmonising colours. The ivory ground contrasts beautifully against the deep indigo border and the chestnut inner field, lifting the entire composition to a very satisfying overall effect. The use of multiple colours reminds me of the famous advice given by Paul Gaugain to his art students:
"Oh you painters who ask for a technique of colour, look at carpets and there you will find all knowledge."
In excellent condition throughout with only marginal spot repairs to ends and sides, the side cords mostly original, nothing missing at the ends, a few small areas showing very slight wear. The lanolin rich wool pile makes the natural colours glow like jewels. A beautiful rug, suitable for floor use as well as a major art statement on the wall.
€SOLD
An unusual design on a Bakthiari village rug, featuring the "mina khani" floral design usually found on rugs from Veramin in northern Persia. The natural colours are pleasantly mellowed with age, giving the rug a truly antique look. In good condition apart from signs of fairly minor, old moth damage mainly near the lower right corner. Sides overcast, a few tiny spot repairs, generally in fairly good condition. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€2100
