In this category I list recently acquired pieces of all groups and sizes for a duration of maximum 6 months after arrival, thereafter they appear in their respective sections. I'm currently negotiating a number of pieces, including a small collection of lovely old DOBAGs, all of which should be cleaned and ready by end April. More images of any lot available on request. Updated 13/3/2023.
This very beautiful carpet was originally offered to us by a Stockholm family and subsequently sold to an Irish collector in 2002. Both previous owners treated the carpet with the utmost care and respect and as a result it's still in perfect, original condition throughout, with full pile, original sides and ends all intact.
The relatively rare allover design is favoured by most decorators and collectors, easier to furnish with and very gentle on the eye. The quality is staggering, with a total knot count of 5,8 million, meaning it would have taken a team of 4 skilled weavers at least 2 years to complete. If you imagine that amount of time and skill applied to any other work of fine art you realise how grossly undervalued top end Oriental carpets are today.
The fine, glossy merino wool makes the natural dyes glow with a terrific sheen, also being totally fast and not prone to fading or colour run if wet. A wonderful carpet looking for a special room where the next caretaker will have generations of pleasure from it.
€19500
€19500
This wonderful rug features a design known as "mostofi", so named after the Persian Premier Fath-Ali-Shah (1797-1834) who was a strong supporter of the Persian carpet industry. The "mostofi" design was primarily found in large carpets but occasionally also in "dozar" sizes as seen here. The weaver(s) of this stunning rug were exceptionally skilled, woven "freestyle" with lots of charming, quirky touches and, yet maintaining a stunning elegance and harmony. The knot count of 290/sq inch places it at the very top of Bidjar work.
Antique Bidjar pieces are without doubt the most hard wearing and durable of all Persian pieces, due to a special local weaving technique of taught and sinuous wefts, heavily beaten together. The local natural dyes were also of superb quality, absolutely colour fast if washed and unlikely to fade, all a far cry from the poor, synthetically dyed efforts produced in Bidjar from the 2nd quarter of the 20th C to this day.
In superb condition throughout with near full pile, original end finishes and only a discreet protective extra overcasting of the side cords. The rug is free of repairs and should survive for several generations to come, even if placed in areas of heavy traffic. A rare and beautiful gem!
€6800
The Bakthiari tribes were originally nomadic, searching for grazing throughout the Zagros, then gradually settling into village life. The late rug dealer and good friend Peter Willborg published a comprehensive study on the Bakthiari that has helped us identify rug weaving areas and local traditions.
This rather unusual example features a prayer "mihrab" dominated by a Tree-of-Life, filled with flowers and featuring two large birds and cypress trees at the base, symbolising life and death.
Woven on a cotton foundation this example is a charming village weaving with excellent qualilty hand spun wool all dyed with natural dyes. Although drawn symmetrically, a closer look reveals plenty of quirky details, clearly showing she was working from memory and not a sterile, predictable cartoon.
A lovely, hard wearing and rare rug, in full pile of glossy wool, set to last for generations. Ref: P. Willborg, Chahar Mahal Va Bakthiari, Pl. 301.
€3500
A beautiful antique Caucasian rug in virtually perfect condition, featuring the so-called Memling Gul motif found throughout the Caucasus. On a rare ivory ground the two rows of Guls create a striking, rhythmic design which also features several charming improvisations by the weaver who clearly worked "freestyle" and not from a rigid, mass produced cartoon.
The lanoline rich wool is all dyed with natural dyes, set to last for generations, only to undergo an attractive softening yet never lose their clarity. Compare that to the fugitive, garish synthetic dyes used for the past 100 years which not only fade but also run if exposed to water, rendering the rug worthless.
The rug has clearly been cherished by its former caretakers, in near full pile throughout, complete with original end kilims and side cords, free of repairs. For related pieces, ref Ian Bennett, Caucasian Rugs, pl. 204 & 206. On a final note, the upper left corner area is not faded - they are unavoidable sun reflections during photography.
€7200
A lovely, charming Heriz carpet with a broad range of beautiful natural colours, in a somewhat unusual all-over design. It was woven at a time when the weavers worked their designs from memory - in stark contrast to later, post War pieces that are rigid, predictable and often made in multiples to identical designs.
The freestyle work is particularly apparent in the main border but also in the field, giving the carpet a truly unique qualify and individual charm.
In very good condition apart from areas of slight surface wear in the upper field plus loss of 3-4 knot rows at the lower end border. A lovely, calm and decorative carpet of a type much in demand in the rug trade world wide.
€6400
A very stylish, elegant and well drawn Baluch rug of a design and colouring characteristic of Baluch weavings from NE Khorassan. The weaver was clearly very experienced, the weave tight and even with a knot count of 156 pr sq inch. The finely spun lanolin rich wool pile (full throughout) make the warm natural colours glow with a rich sheen.
In excellent condition throughout, free of wear or repairs, its original sides and ends intact apart from the loss of a few kilim strands.
€2700
This exceptional carpet was woven in one of the top ateliers of Tabriz, possibly run by a master designer from Kashan. Everything about it points towards a Kashan origin - the choice of dyes (all natural), the style of design and not least the exceptional quality of merino wool for the pile, until you check the knots which are symmetrical (Turkish), not assymmetrical (Persian) as is the norm for Kashan carpets.
The quality of weaving is also exceptional, with a knot count of 360/sq inch or 578000/sq meter, extremely evenly woven. Although woven from a precise cartoon the center medallion is charmingly slightly off center - adding to its character and giving the true impression of good age.
The carpet is in excellent condition throughout with full pile, complete with its original shirazi (side cords) and no loss at ends, other than the actual finishing strands of weft that are missing. There are a couple of very minor spots of old, properly restored moth damage, of no consequence and free of any other issues. A stunning, elegant and impressive carpet for a luxurious room.
€11800
A very beautiful kellei carpet of a size that was particularly popular in the Ferahan region. Many of them ended up in fine country homes in Europe and the US, fitting in superbly well with early period art and antiques. The midnight blue ground is the perfect backdrop to an attractive all-over design in warm, light colours, including the Ferahan soft green which you rarely come across in any other Persian region.
The carpet is in excellent condition throughout with good pile, only showing very slight surface wear in small areas. The original side cords and end finishes are still present and there are only a couple of minute field repairs of no consequence. A beautiful piece of a very rare size and a range of superb natural colours.
€SOLD
This 19th C tribal rug is a good example of weavings by this Khamseh sub-tribe, their favourite depiction always being "murgh" (chicken) in both rugs and other weavings. Finely knotted with naturally dyed sheep's wool, the design is totally free-style, straight out of the weavers memory. A rug like this can take many months and sometimes years to complete, as the tribe kept moving along in search of grazing for their domestic animals.
Very few genuine tribal pieces surface on international markets and they are actively sought after globally by collectors of early tribal textiles. This is a good, and reasonable, example in very good condition, complete with its original ends and sides and only one minimal reweave in the upper left corner kilim. Since this photo was taken Liz Mansergh has tidied up the loose ends in the kilims, both ends now in perfect condition.
For reference: David Black, London, Woven Gardens Exhibition, Pl 14.
€SOLD
