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. I'm currently negotiating a number of good Antique pieces, all of which should be listed in late April.
This section updated 15/3/2023
An unusual rug with "memling" guls in a grid of three by eight squares, inside a "crab" border and two saw-edged guards. Woven on an all wool foundation with full, high pile throughout, the rug has remained in virtually flawless condition, clearly stored for much of the time since being woven.
Within the strictly drawn design there are many irregularities and charming spontaneities, especially the unexpected pinkish red area appearing near the top left corner. As this was near the finish of the weaving, the weaver might well have decided Allah must not be offended, hence the deliberate "imperfection".
This is a robust, original and immensely hard wearing rug in exceptional, almost untouched, condition throughout. Superb quality wool dyed with natural, vibrant colours. No repairs or alterations, original ends present.
€4900
A striking example of the great Kurdish rugs from Bidjar, famed for their exceptional durability, robust weave, unique styles of design and wonderful natural colours in early examples. This piece features a beautiful sky blue medallion on plain red inner field where the weaver clearly has gone through multiple batches of naturally dyed red wool resulting in horisontal lines of different colour strength.
Woven on cotton warp this very tightly knotted rug has a knot count of 195/sq inch, resulting in a heavy and robust weave that will withstand generations of hard wear. In excellent condition throughout with full pile, original side cords and complete end finishes, only one minute spot of repiling hardly worth a mention. Like most Bidjars it is slightly shaped which only shows when viewed vertically whereas on the floor becomes irrelevant. A great rug with loads of charming character in excellent condition.
€2800
This stunning rug is a top level example of the best pieces woven in Bidjar between 1880-1930. Wonderful, rhythmic design full of elegance as well as quirky spontaneity, superb natural dyes and in excellent condition throughout. For further info on this piece, click Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€6800
Gabbeh rugs were woven by Persian tribes, mostly from the Fars province. Made for utilitarian purposes, woven in thick, glossy and hard wearing wool, these pieces were woven totally freestyle, the emphasis being on form and colour.
This is a rare, antique example, woven almost a century before these rugs became high fashion in the west. In very good condition apart from some spots of slight wear in the centre. Would look stunning almost anywhere, perhaps especially in a minimal, contemporary environment, on the floor or, if you dare, on the wall!
€4800.-
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
This beautiful antique Caucasian rug features the so-called "Memling Gul" design, found in several parts of the Caucasus in the 19th C. The rare ivory ground creates a perfect background for the charming Guls, all drawn spontaneously, showing the weaver's work from memory rather the rigid, predictable and mass produced cartoons used from the early 20th C onwards.
In perfect condition throughout with its original ends and side cords intact, in full pile apart from small areas of very slight surface wear. For further info on this piece, click on Recent Acquisitions and scroll down.
€7200
A beautiful, characterful rug woven by a village weaver entirely from memory, ie no other identical rug exists - in stark contrast to later Russian factory mass produce where so-called Caucasian rugs with precise, sterile designs and poor dyes were churned out in large numbers. Filled with quirky motifs the rug depicts the weaver's artistic interpretation of village life, much of it probably passed on for generations.
All natural dyes, good wool, in very good condition with only minor restoration such as a correction weave at the top short end and two small reweaves in the lower field end. Note the intriguing five panels at the lower end, pictures of other rugs perhaps? Rugs like this are actively collected by a world wide audience of rug enthusiasts.
€5200
The various tribal groups generally placed under the umbrella name of "Baluch" mainly produced small, oblong rugs, either of "Mihrab" (prayer rug) design or a variety of all-over, abstract field arrangements. Long and wide pieces were less common and to find an example like this, in virtually pristine order with full pile, original ends and sidecors, is an achievement. Most antique Baluch pieces were often destroyed by neglect and not considered of much value until recently - now they are much sought after by decorators and collectors alike, because of their sombre colourings and easy to place, rhythmic all-over designs.
€5500.-
In the West, early Tekke "Bokhara" carpets have always been among the most desirable and expensive floor coverings. Delicate in design, never crowded, dyed in warm, pleasant shades of red, they have remained in demand as prime furnishing carpets and collector's items, independent of fashion.
This is one of the best examples we have ever had, extremely finely knotted in superb, silky quality wool. The composition of four by ten "Guls" was the classical, best balanced feature of early examples, framed by wonderful borders of spontaneously composed motifs.
There are two minor, adjacent reweaves along the right border halfway up the field, otherwise the carpet is in very good condition with only very slight, even spot wear and complete with its original kilim ends. A rare, great carpet for the discerning collector.
Ref: W. Loges, Turkoman Tribal Rugs, pl 2
€11750
A very pretty Heriz with the sought after all-over design, superb natural colours and uncluttered design. Small sizes of this style and age are very hard to source, fitting in as they do with almost any style of interior design.
This little beauty is in excellent condition throughout in full pile with its original ends and sides present, ready to go. It would make a great pair with # 9180 also just arrived, for homes in search of two matching pieces that work superbly together.
€6500
Old Heriz carpets with all-over design are generally favoured by decorators and interior designers worldwide due to their great furnishing suitabilities. Small sizes from Heriz of this type are therefore few and far between and I'm pleased to have acquired two examples of which this is the larger. The design is charmingly assymmetrical, all dyes are natural and the carpet is in excellent condition throughout.
Woven in the first quarter 20th century, fairly coarsely knotted but a great size and attractive design, at a good price.
€4600
A beautiful antique carpet featuring the original Tekke gul design later known as "Bokhara" after the town where the nomads traded their weavings. Original examples made before the Russian Revolution are now rare and much sought after as decorative furnishing carpets as well as collector's items.
This carpet features all the qualities of early, non commercial pieces - exceptional silky wool pile knotted at around 170/sq inch, natural dyes and virtually repair free. The original end kilims have been lost, otherwise the carpet is in exceptionally good condition. A rare and beautiful piece that blends in equally well in classical and contemporary settings. This photograph does not do it justice and better images will be posted shortly.
€6200
A beautiful, decorative Heriz carpet with great natural colours and spontaneously drawn design showing the freestyle of weaving without cartoons.
In very good condition throughout, the only minor issues a few knot rows missing at the lower end and some slight surface wear in the upper half of the field. For further info on this piece, click on Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€6400
This stunning, exceptionally finely woven carpet has all the looks and character of the best pieces woven in Kashan at the time - however the knots are Turkish (symmetrical), not Persian (assymmetrical) which are used in Kashan. The silky, finely spun wool is known locally as "kurk" (in fact it is imported Australian merino wool spun in Manchester) found in both cities around the turn of the century.
In excellent condition throughout, with full pile, virtually repair free other than a few minor spots of restored moth damage, original side cords and no other issues. For further info on this piece, please click on Recent Acquisitions, and scroll down.
€11800
This group of antique carpets have always been much sought after due to their striking, yet subtle design and, in antique examples, wonderful natural colours. This piece has a real village charm showing plenty of attractive spontaneity and uncluttered design. The colours are exceptionally attractive, natural dyes at their best with subtlety of soft colours that can only be achieved by time.
Georavan Heriz carpets are typically of fairly coarse weave but instead of thick, glossy pile, set to last for generations. In very good condition throughout, mostly in full pile, only a couple of very minor spots of old re-piling. Sides and ends are original and intact. More images available on request.
€8600
A very beautiful, impressive kellei carpet of great age, featuring an attractive all-over design and the use of superb natural colours.
In excellent condition throughout with original ends and sides intact, in near full pile and with only a couple of minute spot repairs of no consequence. For further info on this piece, click Current Stock, Recent Acquisitions and scroll down.
€SOLD
A very well drawn, elegant carpet from one of the most well renowned carpet weaving cities in Iran. The general standard of weaving, the well balanced and finely drawn designs, harmonising colours and pleasing proportions seen in early 20th C Kashans placed them at the very top of Persian carpet production.
This example has good natural colours, high quality glossy wool and dense knotting at around 240/sq inch. There is one old spot of restoration near the lower right corner, plus a few small traces of old moth damage. Other than that the carpet is in full pile and complete all around.
€9500
Kashan carpets of this period were often among the most elegant and classically drawn of all Persian city carpets. At this time most of the better qualities were still employing naturally dyed yarns of the highest quality, the designs drawn by very experienced masters who fully understood the merits of good design and perfectly harmonising colours. This carpet would immediately transform a dull, soulless space into a highly sofisticated, elegant and luxurious drawing room. The carpet is in near perfect condition with only a few tiny areas of slight spot wear - most of it retains its full pile. A beautiful carpet for a special room.
€12900
This spectacular carpet was originally owned by a Stockholm family and subsequently sold by us in 2002 to a private Irish collector. It has a relatively rare, very beautifully drawn allover design, much sought after by decorators as they are easier for furnishing purposes compared to the more traditional medallion Kashans.
The quality is at the very highest level with a knot count of 272/sq inch or a total for the carpet of a staggering 5,8 million. This would have required a team of 4 highly skilled weavers and taken them at least 2 years to complete. It has been kept in perfect condition by both previous owners, in full pile throughout, no moth damage, only one tiny, old spot repair of no consequence along the right side. All dyes are natural, the merino wool glowing like silk. A wonderful carpet at a very keen price and almost impossible to replace.
€19500
€19500
