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. More images of any lot available on request. Updated 22/7/2022.
This gorgeous rug is a superb example of tribal Avshari rug art at its best. The playful design, the stunning colours (most notably the sky blue), the skillful balance of empty space and tight detail, all points to a very experienced weaver.
Being finely knotted at around 132/sq inch the pile was cut thin to enhance the design - it's still in very good condition with only marginal surface wear in the centre. The original kilims are intact, as are the side cords, and there are no repairs.
The rug is in good enough condition to be used on the floor but for a 150+ year old tribal work of art of this caliber I would recommend wall display to preserve it for future generations.
Ref: James Opie, Tribal Rugs, Pl. 12.13.
€6500
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.
€4400
This unusual late 19th C rug features a celebration of the Persian night - the deep midnight blue featuring a large flowering vase with a nightingale at the top. Note also the single female figure and two small birds amidst the foliage.
Finely woven at 182/sq inch on a cotton warp this was the work of a settled Avshari woman, possibly as a gift or part of dowry. Superb natural colours, in excellent, repair free condition throughout, the only issue being the side cords that have been overcast. A rare and beautiful little piece that would look good anywhere but perhaps best enjoyed on a wall under a spotlight.
€3800
This pretty little rug was probably the front of a storage bag (khorjin), or possibly just a small seating rug (poushti). Charming and quirky it features four large flowering vases surrounded by tree-of-life and "evil eye" symbols, all commonly used motifs on dowry or wedding gifts to ensure the future owners will lead happy, fertile lives, protected from evil spirits.
In excellent condition throughout, full pile and no repairs.
€725
An exceptionally fine 19th C village rug with a design best known from the Leshgi group further north. "Leshgi" stars appear in a range of east Caucasian regions but the fine weave and closely cropped pile fits better with Shirwan pieces of this age.
The four star medallions sit on a field full of playful fillers - stars, evil eye symbols and "S" motifs in improvised colours and drawings add to the charm of the rug. The deep midnight blue, almost black border and outlining of the star motifs sits well on the soft red field.
There is no loss of short ends with the original kilim still present at upper end, side cords are original and the finely cut pile is near perfect. Generally the rug is in great condition with only one minute spot of repiling. A rare and lovely Caucasian rug for wall or floor.
Latif Kerimov, in his work Russian Collections, illustrates a very similar rug on Pl. 48, Kiurdamir district, Azerbaijan.
€SOLD
A typical Erecek village rug from the Ayvacik part of the now defunct DOBAG project. The favoured design of this village was the "oklu" (arrow), seen here, with the characteristic ivory border and village symbol woven into the upper kilim end. Unfortunately it was not one of my imports and hence I haven't got the specific details of the weaver's name, knot count etc - she did however sign it B.A. close to the upper end.
In perfect condition, full pile, no repairs, ready to go for another couple of generations, capable of withstanding heavy floor exposure.
€SOLD
A beautiful Shirwan village rug of unusual design and lovely, warm natural colours. This region had a wide spread home weaving tradition prior to the Russian revolution, producing decorative, charming and finely woven examples. After the revolution private enterprise was banned and with that the whole tradition disappeared in favour of sterile, mass produced replicas employing synthetic colours and utterly sterile, predictable and designs of no collector's value. It was clearly displayed on a wall by previous caretakers, the hanging rings still present.
A very closely related example was published in Latif Kerimov's work Russian Collections, pl. 53, attributed to the village of Bijo, Aksu district, Azerbaijan. The similarities are striking, from the size, choice of dyes, use of borders and main field design. In very good, complete condition, side cords sympathetically overcast, woven short ends intact, no repairs and generally in good pile throughout. A perfect piece for wall display but also good enough for use on the floor.
€4500
An old DOBAG rug woven when the natural dye project was in full swing. The design is used historically throughout parts of Anatolia and very similar designs are seen in old Caucasian village rugs.
The rug has a DOBAG number and is signed A.E. with the date 95 - regrettably I can't supply the weaver's name as the rug was sourced privately. In perfect condition throughout, in full pile, no wear or repair, clean and ready to go. It has clearly not been used much on the floor and would benefit from exposure to daily use to polish the wool, adding further shine to the naturally dyed pile.
€SOLD
An early, rare and very beautiful Caucasian village rug from a part of the Caucasus known for some of the finest rugs woven in the region. You're looking at a piece of rare and genuine Caucasian folk art, unlike any other made, showing the weavers obvious freestyle work that gives the rug such charm. The "kufic" border is one of the most attractive in the rug world, used in several districts such as Shirwan, Leshgi and Kuba.
In excellent condition throughout, original and complete sides and ends including the kilim finishes, in full (finely cropped) pile and no repairs. Very finely woven for a Caucasian rug with a knot count of 208/sq inch. Future caretakers might consider displaying the rug on a wall where I believe it can be best enjoyed, as well as kept safe from wear and tear.
Two closely related examples published in Latif Kerimov, Russian Collections, Pl 5, and U. Schurmann, Caucasian Rugs, Pl. 104.
€6800
A very pretty, well drawn and finely knotted DOBAG from the height of the project , now regrettably come to an end with no rugs produced since around 2012. This decorative little rug shows the skills of the Acarkoc family of weavers, rated among the best in the Yunt Dag.
Excellent colour combination, a beautiful border and maintained in perfect condition by its previous caretaker. Signed F.A. with a Y for Yunt Dag, dated 2002. In perfect, original condition throughout, complete with all the DOBAG paperwork.
€1300
A good example of the characteristic three medallion design village rugs from Karadja. This one has lovely (all natural) colours, most notably the gold border and bluish green in the two supporting medallions.
Excellent wool, original ends now secured, side cords just marginally overcast, in near full pile throughout and free of repairs. A robust, solid furnishing rug that would look great in most settings, traditional or contemporary.
€2900
The finest rugs from Kashan at this time were woven with lambs' wool pile ("kurk" in Farsi), a fine, lanolin rich wool glowing like silk with which they are often confused. In some rug markets they are generally named "Mohtashem" Kashan after the master designer/weaver whose signed rugs are now exceptionally rare.
This beautiful example has a knot count of 361 pr square inch or 580000 pr square meter, giving a total knot count of approx 1,6 million hand tied knots. The skilled Kashan weavers produced around 5-6000 knots pr day so for a single weaver the time to complete a piece of this quality would be around 300 days.
The rug is in near full pile throughout, side cords in their original position with some overcasting in places, both ends are intact including the original kilim at one end. There are small areas of old moth damage which have been re-piled but generally the rug is in very good condition. This is one of an identical pair, the second piece to come online shortly - they can be sold separately.
€6200
This lot is the identical pair to # 9178, in similar condition - generally very good with only small areas of professional re-piling and some areas of slight surface wear. Both lots are intact with original side cords and ends.
€6200
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 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
This rare example of knotted (piled) mafrash panels is an early piece - its original purpose being one of the long sides of a cradle or cot, a tradition normally found primarily among tribal work. A very beautiful weaving that can serve as a floor rug (being in full pile throughout), or wall hanging, or even as a draped decoration on a grand piano or piece of furniture.
The primitive drawing clearly shows three pairs of birds, a good luck symbol locally, all with the most superb naturally dyed lanolin rich wool. Free of repairs, a real collector's piece at a very modest cost that would probably look its best displayed horisontally.
€SOLD
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.
€3800
A solid, straight and very well kept Karadja runner with fine knotting, good natural dyes and virtually free of repairs or alterations. It's also of unusually narrow width - always much sought after - and very robusly woven in good pile throughout. The design is filled with charming spontaneity - note the 4 large goats near one of the central medallions.
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.
€5800
Finely woven Baluch prayer rug with the characteristic "mihrab" topped by two hand panels. The Baluch traditionally wove large numbers of prayer rugs, some for dowry but a larger number for hajjis looking for the best prayer rugs to mark a religious haj. They were the height of status with their fine weave, clear red dye and elegant drawing.
In very good condition with near full pile throughout, original sides, no repairs and no loss at ends. There are small areas piled in black wool having the typical slight mordant corrosion which is not due to wear. A lovely piece.
€2800
At the time Yazd was a small but exclusive rug weaving town with only 20-30 looms according to Cecil Edwards in his monumental book The Persian Carpet. Instead Yazd was renowned throughout Persia for its industrious residents and the integrity of its traders. By 1950 the looms had increased to 2-300 but after that, Yazd rugs became almost indistinguishable from nearby Kermans.
This little jewel with a knot count of around 170/sq inch features inlaid silk in details and a wide range of beautiful natural colours. The design of repeated vases is known as Zil-i-Soltan, commonly found in nearby Abadeh. There is an inscription at the bottom of the field which I will try to decipher - unfortunately it was not dated but the weave, the colours and the quality points to an early example.
Apart from very minor loss at the short ends - only 1-3 knot rows - it is in very good condition, original sides, no repairs and only marginal, even surface wear.
€SOLD
Sarab is best known for its runners and oblong rugs, typically featuring a light camel beige ground with a series of diamond shaped lozenges and triple borders. This is an attractive, well drawn example featuring good quality weave, fresh (all natural) colours and well spaced, clear design. In very good condition throughout, sides and ends complete and original, free of repair or alterations.
Another very similar example # 9171 of near identical size, woven on the same loom as an intended pair, will be posted shortly. They are for sale separately or as a pair - # 9171 priced slightly lower at € 1275.- reflecting minor condition issues whereas this lot 9170 is perfect throughout.
€1700
This is the pair to # 9170, one inch shorter but the same width. At first sight they are identical but if studying the borders you clearly see the different detail and colour choices as the weaver worked her way up the loom. Had the piece been woven 20 years later each piece would probably have been identical to the smallest detail, woven from rigid cartoons rather than the weaver's memory.
Also in good condition but has some spots of very slight wear, marginal loss at each short end (secured) and over-bound side cords. They can be sold together or separately.
€1275
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.
€9400
A highly decorative, elegant and straight Sarab runner, with the characteristic soft, light colouring and open design. In excellent condition throughout with full pile, original side cords and short ends, free of repairs and ready to brighten up any elegant hallway without any reservations about heavy traffic.
€4600
