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. Updated 11/6/2021.
At first sight this rug looks brand new but looking more closely it's clearly an early 20th century piece. All the dyes are good (natural), the wool is of the highest quality, the knot count way higher than the low grade contemporary commercial rugs from the area. In our trade one is always searching for those hidden heirlooms that have been kept in old family dealers' stocks, sometimes for generations, like a form of long term stock investment, only to be sold when the price is right.
A great rug that will withstand heavy traffic and improve with use, and light, for generations. to come. No wear or repairs, in full pile.
€1950
A rare and beautiful runner with a style of design I have only come across on Khamseh rugs, never on a runner. It also has curious and highly decorative end panels which add to the elegance of the piece. Pieces like this were only used by the tribe as seating for distinguished visitors and the striking elegance suggests it was probably woven for a highly placed Khamseh tribesman - this would also explain why the piece is in such good condition.
Beautiful natural colours, great wool, original kilim ends and side cords still present, one minor spot of old repiling, generally in excellent condition throughout.
€4600
A very beautiful, early village rug from Bidjar, ticking all the boxes on my "check list". The complex design is clearly woven "freestyle" without cartoons, making it unique, the natural dyes and glossy wool of top quality, the condition close to perfect with full pile, original ends and sides intact and only one minor repair to the upper left corner.
Rugs of this quality have not been woven in Iran for a very long time, the newly made "Bidjars" having none of the properties that made early examples so superior and value retaining. A great rug suitable for both traditional and contemporary settings, set to last for another century with a modicum of care. The slightly dark upper right corner is a natural shadow from a tree in our garden.
€4800
This is a finely woven example of early Sarouks, using classical local designs, tight weave of excellent quality wool clipped short and only natural dyes. From the turn of the century the local traditions were abandoned in favour of a lucrative production of large carpets with high pile in predominantly pink tones, destined for the US market. Early originals like this piece are now rare and globally sought after.
The design seen here is unusual, highly effective on ivory ground with warm, glowing natural colours woven in lanolin rich top quality wool. Having been hung on a wall by its previous caretakers it is still in very good condition, even pile throughout with only slight surface wear and marginal loss at short ends, now all secured. There is only one old, minor spot of repair and the side cords have been sympathetically oversewn. A rare and beautiful piece that would enhance any style of interiors.
€SOLD
This runner has loads of village character, clearly woven freestyle without any cartoons, featuring some quirky and unusual design details. The colours are typical of the region with superb shades of yellows, sky blue and soft green.
In very good condition with original side cords present, no loss other than the original kilims at the ends (now secured) and in good pile throughout. There are no repairs which suggests it has been lovingly looked after by its previous caretaker.
€3100
The distinctive, finely knotted rugs from Jozan enjoy among the highest reputation for quality in the entire province. Unlike most Hamadans they are double wefted, usually very finely knotted, with a particularly high wool quality that is both attractive and hard wearing.
Natural colours were employed until the 1930's after which point synthetic dyes were introduced with a dramatic fall in quality as a result. The few newly made Jozans you come across in the trade are usually heavily "antique washed" in order to create the beautiful sheen and lustrous finish the older examples always displayed. In perfect, original condition, this is a durable, elegant rug with superb natural colours, set to last for generations even if exposed to heavy traffic.
€SOLD
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
An exceptionally well woven bag face of superb quality, maintained in excellent condition. Like so many tribal artefacts of this age and quality it may well have been part of dowry and as such kept in safe storage apart from special occasions, anniversaries etc when the entire home was decorated with these beautiful works of tribal art.
The knot count is over 180 pr square inch, all dyes are natural and the piece is in original, flawless condition apart from a couple of minute spots of repair of no consequence. Originally this would have been one half of an original "khorjeen" double bag, an important part of dowry among most Persian tribes. Most of them were never used, instead kept in safe storage and only displayed on important occasions. A rare little gem, perfect for hanging or draping over furniture.
€1250
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 striking example of the rose pink single wefted rugs from Lilihan, modelled to an extent on the more expensive double wefted Sarouks, both of which were hugely in demand in the US market in the first half of the 20th C. This example has superb quality wool with a rich sheen, good natural dyes and preserved in near perfect condition as it was displayed on a wall by its previous caretakers.
The size is unusual and highly sought after by decorators - a good bit wider than the Persian norm (dozar) and therefore suitable to sit between big sofas. One curious details is the few small motifs that have been overdyed with a soft grey - a measure undoubtedly taken by traders at the time trying to fulfill the demands of the decorators' market.
€SOLD
These bag faces formed a large part of dowry among the Jaf Kurds out of which only a small number might have been in daily use and the remainder stored away as future assets. Woven on wool foundation with locally dyed natural colours and hand spun wool these bag faces are popular among collectors of tribal weavings, the very finest examples commanding rising prices at international auctions.
In fairly good condition with slight, even surface wear, replaced side cords and secured long ends. A nice, decorative and modestly priced piece of Kurdish tribal art, ideal for wall display
€1050
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.
€SOLD
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. The carpet has now been professionally cleaned after photography and the wool and colours now have a rich sheen.
€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.
€2300
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.
€SOLD
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.
€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
