In this category I list recently acquired pieces of all groups and sizes for a duration of maximum 4 months after arrival, thereafter they appear in their respective sections. More images of any lot available on request. In recent weeks I have acquired another couple of pieces that will be posted in early April. Updated 6/3/2021.
A very attractive late 19th C tribal rug, woven at a time when the Quashq'ai were still migrating with the seasons with their flocks. The weaver has clearly enjoyed herself, filling the field with a huge repertoire of important symbols such as birds, plants, trees, botehs and evil eye motifs. All dyes are natural, light and water fast (meaning there's no risk of colour run), the wool hand spun and of the highest quality.
Apart from a couple of minute repairs, in the center and lower right corner, the rug is in very good condition throughout. There are two minute and insignificant repairs, spots of very slight surface wear and original side cords probably overbound in the past. An attractive, decorative and collectible rug. For a related piece, ref David Black, Woven Gardens, Pl. 2.
€4500
This magnificent, oversize DOBAG carpet was commissioned for an Irish dining room in 1994 and it has recently found its way back to me. It took a team of 4 experienced weavers, all members of the DOBAG project, over a year to complete, holding in excess of 1 million hand tied knots.
Hardly used, the carpet is in excellent original condition throughout with no wear or repairs. Since 1995 it has acquired a bit of patina with a sheen from the wool pile that will only get better the more it's used. DOBAG is now defunct and so this is a unique treasure that can never be recreated - it is also one of the largest DOBAGs we ever handled. It comes complete with its original certificate and DOBAG label.
More images available on request.
€POR
This is probably one of the most beautiful examples from Karadja I have ever stocked. The design shows influence both from the Karabagh province of Caucasian Azerbaijan (the center medallion type "Eagle Kazak"), and the more nearby Heriz district (the colour range). The ivory center medallion and border combined with the beautifully faded greens, sky blues on a warm, soft terra cotta ground lifts the rug into the superclass level.
In excellent condition with full pile throughout, original sides and ends intact, free of repair. The design, in stark contrast to more recent examples, is drawn freestyle from the weaver's memory with a quirky, attractive spontaneity. A highly decorative and collectible piece that would lift your spirits every time you look at it.
€SOLD
A beautiful little "poushti" (seating cushion), finely knotted at 255/sq inch with superb, glossy wool from this area which is famed for its raising production as well as the top quality rugs from the village of Jozan.
In perfect, original and untouched condition throughout, it has probably never been walked on, rather stored away and only used for seating to accomodate distinguished guests. Top quality wool, woven on cotton foundation, ready for use on the floor, on the wall, or draped over good furniture.
€1200
An attractive rug woven on cotton foundation with all good natural dyes, featuring the traditional Karadja design of three shield medallions of varying designs - the older the piece, the more apparent the variation. Karadjas are normally wider than most village rugs, making them very useful and decorative furnishing pieces.
Woven "freestyle" you can see how the weavers worked from memory, not following a rigid and sterile design as seen in later, more commercially woven pieces that also feature poor synthetic colours.
This turn of the century piece is in good condition throughout, original side cords, nothing missing at the ends except a few strands of kilim, in good pile for its age. There are a couple of minute, professionally executed repairs only visible from the back. A good rug for a modest price.
€SOLD
Antique Avshar rugs have been rare and collectible for a long time, sought after for their huge variety of designs, great colours and not least a very useful format, somewhat smaller than many other tribal rugs from Southern Persia.
This finely woven example (144 knots pr sq inch) is woven on ivory wool warp with red wool wefts, the pile cut short to allow the design stand out clean and crispy. Clearly woven "freestyle" it shows the weaver's charming and playful approach, the rug oozing with tribal character.
In very good condition for its considerable age with original side cords, ends complete and secure apart from the missing original kilim ends, free of repairs. If you're looking for a stunning wall rug that will cheer you up every time you look at it, this is for you at a price well below any painting of similar decorative impact. It can also live on the floor but ideally in a quiet room - it would work superbly in contemporary as well as traditional settings.
€SOLD
A very pretty runner with an unusual design and colouring for this region. A deep midnight blue, almost black, makes a striking contrast with the soft greens, rusts and yellows, all dyes naturally produced.
In very good condition throughout, original side cords and secured ends, in good pile apart from small areas of very slight surface wear, enough to give it that lived in look.
€3200
This is a rare and early example of Azerbaijani weaving, woven on ivory and light brown wool foundation with superb, lustrous wool pile dyed in exquisite natural dyes. I can't find any useful reference example in literature but it clearly features both Caucasian and Persian design details whereas the weave points to the Karabagh region on the Caucasian side.
Generally in excellent condition, it has lost one knot row at the lower end, the upper end is intact including the original kilim, side cords original and only one very minor repair in the field. A rare and collectible beauty of good age that would enhance any home setting, clean and ready to go.
€6500
A very striking, attractive rug from the versatile group of Bakthiari, comprehensively researched by the eminent dealer Peter Willborg of Stockholm, Sweden, who sadly passed away recently. In his book are references to several pieces with identical weave structure, style of design and choice of (all natural) colours.
A highly decorative, heavy and robust piece on an unusual format, in excellent condition throughout with its original ends present, side cords in the correct position (but overcast), near full pile throughout and repair free. A great, unusual piece that is both decorative, practical and rare.
€3700
An unusual Bakthiari rug with the allover "mina khani" flowers normally seen in other weaving districts far away from this region such as Veramin much further north. The natural colours have mellowed beautifully, giving the rug a truly "antique" appearance. The sky blue border frames the red field beautifully.
In fairly good condition throughout with signs of old moth nibbles in small areas near the border, side cords overcast and a couple of minute, old spot repairs.
€2100
Long, narrow runners have always been much in demand, the majority of Antique Persian pieces usually well over 3 ft wide. No photograph does this example justice - in real life it's a very striking, elegant piece with spectacularly good natural colours and top quality hand spun wool. Woven on wool warp it is a lot older than the later, sterile post War production that are woven on cotton, using inferior dyes and wool quality.
The runner has clearly been in very little use, treated with the respect it deserves, still in full pile with original sides and ends intact and no repairs. If you're looking for a hall runner that can take generations of use and only look better the more it is walked on, this one is for you.
€4200
A very subtle, well drawn rug featuring very soft, naturally mellowed organic dyes. This pleasing soft look was created by time rather than by the aggressive, damaging chemical treatments found in the current, poorly made commercial production throughout the Orient.
The generous width makes it attractive as a furnishing rug, allowing the design to "breathe" and create calm. In very good condition throughout with its original sides and ends intact, only a few minor spots of overcasting to the side cords and no field repairs.
€2800
A lovely bag face woven by Jaf Kurds, found on both sides of the Iran/Iraq border and in the past sometimes spotted in the Baghdad bazaar. The diagonal arrangement of diamond shapes is typical of Jaf work, using high gloss hand spun wool dyed with exquisite natural colours, playfully arranged as the weaver saw fit.
These weavings were often coarsely knotted with high pile, originally woven as one large storage bag with two near identical piled halves connected with flat woven kilim at the back. In very good condition, side cords have been replaced but there are no repairs and the pile is high. A beautiful, modestly priced piece for wall, floor or draped over furniture.
€SOLD
A very attractive example from Heriz, with a very pleasing design built more on all-over style than the more traditional center medallion. The (all natural) colours are particularly attractive, with a warmth oozing from every shade, all blending together perfectly as only organic dyes can do.
In very good condition with only one original knot row missing at each short end, now secured. Sides original, overcast in places, only a few tiny spots of old repiling in the field. A highly decorative carpet that will lift any room in need of a lift. Clean and ready for use.
€6800
This wonderful, striking and colourful tribal rug shows the caliber and quality of rug art the Persian tribes were capable of producing in the 19th C. Designs were unique and improvised, each weaver using the memorised pool of symbols and depictions reflecting tribal life and culture, the end product always a unique work of tribal art.
The design of this rug features a set of traditional Khamseh borders framing a field of extraordinary complexity and character, using a huge range of superb natural colours that still glow with clarity and purity despite its considerable age.
The rug has been lovingly cared for by previous caretakers, still in excellent condition with only a few minor reweaves in upper right and left corners. Free of repairs and in good pile apart from small areas of slight surface wear. Original side cords and no loss at short ends. A wonderful tribal rug from an era long gone.
€SOLD
A powerful, charming and characterful rug with an unusual amount of free spirit and quirky details you only come across in really old examples - the weaver has clearly worked from memory without any sterile cartoons, creating something unique in stark contrast to the later mass production from the region.
The (all natural) dyes feature a rare use of green which lifts the composition against the dark indigo blue ground.
Woven on cotton warp, the rug is very well preserved with its original side cords and part of the end kilims intact. In good pile throughout, free of repairs and ready to go, at a very reasonable price.
€SOLD
An exceptionally finely woven example of the beautiful Perepedils featuring the characteristic "kufic" main border (which in fact inspired me in 1980 to use as my logo..). Woven on wool the best examples from the late 19th C are often of exceptional quality - this example among the best I have come across with a knot count of 269/sq inch.
Unlike later, more rigid, examples, this rug was woven "freestyle" with whimsical details and charming irregularities mainly in the borders but also in the field. Note in particular the inclusion of 6 human figures in the field, a rare sight in these beautiful rugs. Top quality wool, superb natural dyes only, in full pile throughout with original side cords and strands of end kilims still present. The only repairs are very minor, professionally executed reweaves to lower end corners. An absolute gem of a piece involving a year of superb weaving skills.
€6800
This beautiful old Heriz has adorned my inner hall for 5 years but sadly I have now found another one which fits the space better, so reluctantly I have to let this one go. It's a real beauty, wonderful colours, balanced design, in great condition throughout apart from a few small areas of very slight surface wear. A cracker of a decorative piece the likes of which you don't come across very often.
More images available on request.
€SOLD
A wonderful, early Heriz carpet with exceptional, soft and light natural colours, all achived by natural dyeing as against the distructive standard post war practise of chemical "antique wash" treatments. The quirky design, notably in the borders, shows the 2-3 weavers worked without cartoons, rather using memorised local motifs and symbols.
For its age the carpet is in excellent condition, good pile throughout apart from a few small areas of slight surface wear but still with its original side cords and free of general repairs. Each short end shows small lines of old repiling, now secured. A highly decorative gem of a piece the likes of which are highly sought after by decorators world wide.
€8800
A beautiful and rare Caucasian prayer rug, woven at a time when village rugs were woven properly, each one a unique piece featuring local traditions and symbolism. The green ground is very rare - I can't recall seeing a green ground piece of this group - and to add interest there is a human male figure in the center.
This is a highly collectible work of woven folk art from the Caucasus, ideally for display on a wall but still in good enough condition to serve on the floor. Original side cords and slightly low, even pile throughout, 1-2 knot rows missing at the short ends but now secured. A gem of international collectors' interest.
€6400
A robust, well woven Heriz runner, not yet antique but still old enough to feature only good, natural dyes. Evidence of age is seen in several areas of "abrash" where the weaver has switched wool batches resulting in straight horisontal lines as the natural colours slowly fade at different pace.
This is a solid, hard wearing runner, ideal for entrance hallways or anywhere requiring high tolerance for wear and use. In perfect condition, free of repairs, set to last for generations, also of a size that is much sought after. Very decorative and practical with beatufiul, warm colours to cheer you up.
€2800
A beautiful, decorative and finely woven late 19th C Bidjar on wool foundation, using excellent quality wool and superb natural dyes. At first sight, the rug appears to be woven following a precise cartoon, until you look more closely at both field and borders where the weaver's skillful use of compromises and improvisation becomes obvious. The warm, madder red border of paired birds is one seldom found in Bidjars, adding character and charm to the piece.
In superb condition throughout, free of repairs, in full pile, secure all around with only one knot row missing at the lower end. Woven on a wool foundation at around 144/sq inch. A very attractive rug, set to last even on busy floors for a few generations to come, Bidjars of this quality being almost impossible to wear out.
€SOLD
This beautiful runner illustrates why some 19th C Caucasian rugs top the collectors' wish list worldwide. The spontaneous design, the large number of superb natural colours, the clear understanding of proportions and colour harmony, places them in a class of their own.
In very good condition throughout this lovely piece is still in near full pile throughout, the original side cords and one short end present, the other only having lost one knot row. There are scatterings of minor, well executed repairs throughout. Similar pieces are illustrated in Ian Bennett's book Caucasian Rugs, pl. 185, 189 and 203. A great piece that has been lovingly cherished by its previous owners.
€SOLD
An early and striking runner featuring a style of design that later on became more simplified and planned, ascribed to the NW Persian town of Karadja. This is the oldest example I have come across, showing a free spirit in terms of design and a huge range of beautiful natural colours. Finely knotted on a wool foundation it was probably woven by one of the migrating tribes in the region.
Each main motif running up the center axis differs to the next, as do all the filler motifs and borders. The weaver has clearly worked entirely from memory as she progressed the work (which would stretch to over one year), creating something unique.
In fair condition throughout, some areas still with full pile but others showing some re-piling and minor repairs. Original side cords, loss of a few knot rows at the lower end. A rare beauty but not for the front hall.
€SOLD
This beautiful rug is a great example of the ivory ground, all-over design Kuba rugs woven in the 19th century. Woven freestyle without cartoons, the weaver has managed to maintain an impressive elegance, yet leaving lots of quirky spontaneity, mainly in the beautiful border. The wonderful, all natural colours are clear and well chosen, the deep red border framing the light field to perfection.
There are no repairs other than minor tidying up around short ends and sides, most of which are undisturbed original. The rug has been displayed on the wall in its previous life as a much deserved work of art.
For reference pieces, see Ian Bennett, Caucasian Rugs, Pl. 411 and 424.
€SOLD
