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 27/11/2021.
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
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
These lovely pictorial rugs have always been much sought after internationally among collectors of Chinese artefacts as well as decorators looking for interesting pieces with predominantly indigo blue colouring. The wool is of excellent quality, in full pile throughout, all dyed naturally except small details in a bright pink which is an early synthetic dye used in China from around 1900.
A great, hard wearing rug that would give any environment a lift, perhaps most suitable as an evocative, tactile and highly decorative wall hanging. In excellent condition throughout, the rug has been cleaned after being photographed.
€1750
A very beautiful antique Caucasian rug, full of spontaneity, great natural colours and pleasing, evocative design. Woven on wool foundation with a high knot count of 120/sq inch it has a supple, tactile handle.
Clearly obvious from both field and borders the weaver was working entirely from memory, ie the piece (like most true vintage pieces) is totally unique, in stark contrast with later mass production of pre-designed factory rugs with hideous synthetic colours and lifeless design.
In excellent, almost mint condition throughout I have only found 3 minute, perfectly performed, repairs in the upper end corners plus another in the lower left inner field. A related piece is published in L. Kerimov, Rugs & Carpets from the Caucasus, the Russian Collections, Pl. 41.
€4500
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.
€1500
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.
€1450
A beautiful example of the high quality village rugs from Jozan, finely knotted in lustrous lanoline rich wool all naturally dyed, in excellent condition throughout. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions and scroll down.
€1950
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
A truly beautiful 19th C Baluch rug with beautifully drawn design and exceptional quality wool and natural dyes. Of good age the weaver has avoided cluttering the design, the white blossoms really making a decorative statement. The change of blue (abrash) changing about two thirds up the field adds a genuine sign of good age. It was sold by the gallery in 1991 and has now found its way back to stock, having lived on the wall since that time. In excellent condition throughout.
Jeff Boucher in his important work "Baluchi Woven Treasures" feature an almost identical piece on Pl. 6.
€SOLD
This finely woven Baluch rug has probably been kept in the family stock of continental dealers, some of whom have a habit of building up massive stocks but asking prohibitively high prices, hence some lots remain in stock without exposure to wear or light for generations. There's no doubt of the age looking at the dyes (all natural) and the high wool quality, plus the very fine knotting that you rarely see in later examples.
Virtually unused, the rug is in full pile, with its original end kilims and side cords intact, free of repairs or damages. Note the decorative end panels which is less common in Baluch work. A great rug for a busy spot in the home, set to last for another couple of generations.
€SOLD
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 true tribal rug but woven very late if the dates can be trusted - two are back the front but one appears correct, translating to 1960. The cotton foundation tallies with the date but the dyes are all natural which is very rare for a rug that "young" - it may be the work of a family who stubbornly held on to the old dye secrets as the vast majority of rugs woven in 1960 were full of terrible synthetic colours.
The design is a wow, filled with anything you may find in a tribal environment, all designed to insure you will lead a safe, prosperous and fertile life. In perfect condition throughout, repair free with all sides and ends intact and untouched. Ex a Swedish private collection.
€2300
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 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.
€SOLD
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.
€SOLD
A lovely village rug of a style associated with several districts, featuring the attractive "Herati" fish and diamond design, here woven with great feel for rhythm and proportion. All dyes are natural, in good condition throughout. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€2500
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.
€2300
A very finely woven Bakthiari rug with a highly elegant, symmetrically arranged design, to some degree inspired by the superb and complex rugs woven in nearby Isfahan. The clear, all natural colours are typical of Bakthiar work as are most of the motifs and ornaments, yet with a knot count of almost 300/sq inch the rug it rivals the best of Persian town weavings.
In excellent condition throughout, only missing the original short end kilim at the top end, free of repairs, it's a beautiful, hard wearing and highly accomplished example of its type.
€4400
A beautiful and unusual example of the high quality rugs from Tafresh, featuring exceptional, almost silky, wool and tight weave. Most Tafresh pieces are either a 16 foil center medallion of an all-over bird and flower design - this is the first one of its kind I have come across. In full pile and virtually perfect throughout, all original.
€2800
A very attractive tribal rug of good proportions and well scaled design. The four-armed motif in the centre, matched by halves in each corner, often features in early work by this tribe - the exact origin or symbolism of it is still subject to debate among rug scholars.
The rug is in good condition showing only very slight, even wear, original side cords and complete ends apart from the missing kilim finishes. For further into on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€2900
Yatak rugs were originally woven for home use by villagers and tribal people as special sleeping rugs with thick, high quality wool pile and coarse weave. The quirky and very powerful design is clearly spontaneously woven into the rug as the weaver saw fit, real "freestyle" as I call them, definitely a one of a kind piece representing a long lost tradition.
There are a number of old, small and professionally performed restorations, almost invisible to the eye, otherwise the rug is in excellent condition. Wonderful, all natural colours and superb quality lanolin rich wool. A real collector's rug at a modest price.
€2600
A very pretty example of the Mahal group of rugs woven around the turn of the century. Good natural dyes and in good condition apart from loss of 2-3 knot rows at one short end. Very slight, even surface wear, no repairs and generally in very good shape. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€2400
Sarouk is a large village of some 800 houses where, in the late 19th C, very fine rugs were woven. Densely knotted with the pile clipped short they were of superb quality, usually with some form of medallion design. From the turn of the century the weavers began producing high pile large carpets, usually in rose pink tones, destined for the strong US market.
This beautiful early piece has a knot count of around 170/sq inch, fine quality silky wool and natural colours. In good condition throughout apart from one small area of old repair and marginal loss of both short ends, all now secured. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€SOLD
