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 20/11/2022.
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.
€poa
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 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.
€SOLD
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.
€SOLD
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
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
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.
€SOLD
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.
€SOLD
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
