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 30/7/2020.
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.
€5400
A very rare and beautiful tribal rug of exceptional quality with soft, clear natural colours. The handful of known pieces of this group normally feature a deep yellow ground whereas this has the added edge of the sought after ivory field.
Comparable pieces are published by J. Opie in Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia and Peter Bausback in his exhibition catalogue Alte und Antique Orientalische Knupfkunst, Oct 1981. One author suggesting these rugs may have been woven for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mekka, the other that they were specially woven for the palatial town houses of their tribal chieftains.
This beautiful piece is a valuable example of Persian rug art, woven some 150 years ago and deserving to be proudly displayed on the wall.
€6500
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.
€6200
A really fine, beautiful carpet of a quality only seen in 19th century examples. The superb natural colours are beautifully combined, the large scale border of a style normally found in even earlier carpets from nearby Heriz.
Free of repairs, complete with original side cords and end finishes (now secured), showing only some field areas of even, slight wear. The slightly squint appearance is mainly due to my camera position on top of the ladder - in real life it is only marginally shaped, nothing more than what you can expect from a true village carpet.
€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.
€2900
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.
€5400
A highly decorative Heriz carpet with traditional center medallion design. The beautiful, natural colours are nicely subdued, blending perfectly, improving with age and safe to clean repeatedly ensuring durability for generations. This is in stark contrast to recently woven carpets from this region with aggressive, cold synthetic colours that require heavy "antique wash" treatments to be acceptable as furnishings. This chemical onslaught destroys the wool over a short time, the colours either fading away completely, or remain horrendously sharp for ever. Cleaning a newly made piece is also risky as the poor dyes often run, rendering the carpet valueless.
Slight, even wear but mainly in good pile, only loss of one knot row at each short end (now secured).
€SOLD
A very beautiful, clean and appealing Heriz of an unusually small carpet size - hard to find and much in demand both for contemporary and classical settings. The all natural colours glow, enhanced by lanolin rich wool, still in fairly high pile apart from small areas of slight surface wear. Original side cords, no loss at ends except the few kilim strands that normally needs replacing/stopping after a century on the floor. A superb furnishing carpet that would, like most Heriz's, transform any room.
€5800
This exceptional example of Bakhtiari weaving is clearly a "town" rug, woven from a cartoon to achieve maximum elegance and precision. Few if any Bakthiari nomads still exist and over the past century almost all pieces were woven in villages around the Zagros mountains. The group has been thoroughly researched by my Swedish colleague Peter Willborg who sadly passed away recently. In his magnificent book Chahar Mahal va Bakthiari he credits the village of Chal-e-Shotor with producing the highest quality of the entire region. The special single-wefted technique used in the village allows for very high knot counts (here ca 225/sq inch) plus the fantastic natural colours produced locally.
A truly wonderful Persian rug in perfect, original condition, free of repairs or wear, only missing the few kilim strands at the short ends (now stopped).
€SOLD
Pousthis are small rugs originally intended for seating when entertaining guests and visitors. Most of the time they were stored away as works of art, perhaps displayed on walls or furniture, but rarely used on the floor. This explains why one occasionally comes across these little jewels in near perfect condition despite their age.
Bidjars are among the most densely woven Persian rugs, this example with a staggering 306/sq inch being even above the high norm of this group. In excellent condition, having lost only one row of knots (now secured), otherwise it's all original, free of repairs, in full pile.
€SOLD
Clean, uncut (borders removed) antique runners of this size are extremely rare and sought after. I recall searching for one for our own home and it took several years to spot one that ticked all the boxes.
This is a real village rug, woven "freestyle" without cartoons or charts, thereby allowing the weaver to create a quirky, cheerful piece. The soft natural colours have mellowed beautifully and it has been kept in good condition by previous caretakers. Coarsely woven, as most Georavans are, near full pile in the main but one or two small areas showing slight wear. Original side cords present, no loss at short ends and generally in good shape. This image is taken from a ladder, hence its "crooked" appearance.
€1900
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.
€1600
The DOBAG rugs woven in Koru were always coveted and sought after by DOBAG enthusiasts, based on their consistent quality, unusual designs and superb wool. This charming, decorative rug, now 16 years old and having been in constant use, now looks better than it did when new. The natural colours have deepened and mellowed, the wool gloss has emerged developed, the rug now beginning to look like a late 19th C Anatolian village rug. As all DOBAGs and especially the pieces from Koru, it was very well woven with solid end kilims and side cords, the entire still in excellent condition throughout. Signed Z.O. with the Y for Yunt Dag, dated 2004.
€SOLD
A beautiful, traditional Heriz carpet woven in the Georavan district, featuring all the wonderful natural dyes that mellow so beautifully with age. A decorative, robust and hard wearing carpet that will enhance any room, sought after by decorators and rug enthusiasts worldwide.
In very good condition throughout with near full pile apart from two areas of right side field showing very slight, even wear. free of repairs. More images available on request.
€9200
Heriz carpets never fell out of favour with all the daft interior fashion swings in recent years and now they are back as universally the strongest in demand of all decorative carpets. They "work" in most settings, creating an immediate warmth and casual feel-good effect that none other seem to match.
This early piece features a range of subtle, soft colours, including a sought after faded sky blue. In very good condition showing only a few small patches of slight, natural surface wear. No repairs other than securements at each short end with 2-3 knot rows missing, original side cords. A highly decorative carpet of a sought after size at a modest price.
€SOLD
