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 30/7/2021.
A curious piece woven by the Avshars, dated three times of which two are correct (one is back the front), translating to 1960 AD. The dyes are clearly all natural, showing some abrash and other proof if needed, yet at this time almost all Persian rug weavers had long abandoned natural dyes in favour of inferior chemical one. Most likely the rug was made by a family who had managed to hold on to the forgotten dye making secrets.
The design is typical tribal Avshar - birds, animals, flowers, evil eye symbols, around the two bold medallions that later became the norm for more commercial rugs woven in Shahr Babak. In perfect condition throughout, ex a Swedish private collection where it has been stored away for a generation or more.
€2300
The Avshars were a Turkic tribe once settled in areas of NW Persia from where they were forcefully moved to the Kerman region in the 19th C as they were considered potential trouble makers so near the capital Teheran.
Certain design elements from the north-west were copied by the tribe and still turn up in pieces woven around Kerman. The border seen here is something you might see in 19th century Bidjars whereas all other motifs and symbols are pure Avshari in style. As for the symbols and details you can spend a long time counting all the birds, animals, up to 13 human figures, evil eye symbols, etc, making it a fascinating piece.
In excellent condition with almost full pile throughout, original side cords and remains of end brocading present, free of repairs. Ex a private Swedish collection.
€4500
Hamadan rugs of this design, known as "herati", were woven in several regions around the province. The colours in this example point towards Mehraban but other features point elsewhere - whatever the exact location of origin it's a very beautiful drawing with great natural colours and good sense of balance and proportions.
In very good condition with only slight, even surface wear, overbound side cords and secured at both ends, no repairs. A great furnishing rug that fits in almost everywhere.
€2500
Another small prayer rug from the recently acquired private collection of good DOBAG rugs. Slightly smaller than # 9156 it has slightly different design details and also a more compact scale. This rug has never been on the floor, as good as new, with thick pile throughout making it highly suitable for floor use. Signed A.A. and dated 2008.
€SOLD
The square field motif may look contemporary but it's known locally as "sandikli", a reference to the dowry chest. Similar rugs dated to the 19th C have been found in village mosques around the Yunt Dag.
A finely knotted rug made by one of the best women of the Yunt Dag co-op at the time, in perfect condition throughout as it has been kept away from traffic since 2007. Signed S.A., dated 2007.
€1500.-
This design is known locally as "vazo selvi" (cypress vase), used primarily by the weavers in Yunt Dag where it originated. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul houses a 17th C version of similar style.
This impressive rug has thick pile of lustrous wool further improved by a thorough deep clean. DOBAGs, like most antique rugs, have fast dyes that don't run even if fully soaked in water. This means you can maintain them for generations by good cleaning, in stark contrast to the masses of modern Oriental rugs with poor synthetic colours that either fade in light, and/or run if wet, dramatically reducing their value and life expectancy.
Signed S.O. with a Y for Yunt Dag and the date 2007.
€2400
This lovely rug was sold at the opening night of the DOBAG exhibition in Blackrock Shopping Centre in 1990. The founder of the project, Dr Harald Bohmer, gave a lecture and Dudu Oztoprac, a master weaver from Suleyman Koy, held a week long weaving demonstration. Seated by her loom in the window she drew a constant crowd of spectators, all of them bewildered by the extraordinary skill and speed of her work. Dr Serife Atlihan, the quality director from the DOBAG project, was also present.
Since then this rug has spent much of its time on the wall and in storage, hence its perfect, original condition. A final deep clean has brought back all the beautiful, now mellowed, colours and the wool glows like silk. Signed N.K.
€SOLD
This lovely Baluch was originally sold to a Dublin collector in 1991 where it was displayed on the wall until now. It is beautifully drawn by the weaver, from memory only, showing restraint in overcrowding and a great feel for rhythm and and proportions. The white blossoms in the border add a lovely touch as does the "abrash" in the deep blue in the diamond lozenges.
Jeff Boucher, in his important work "Baluchi Woven Treasures" shows a very similar piece on Pl. 6
€SOLD
Tafresh rugs differ in appearance to most other Hamadan origins - they are more formal, more finely knotted and using an exceptionally high wool quality. The choice of colours, all natural until around 1940, are also somewhat unusual.
This finely knotted example has a rare style of design I haven't come across before. There are some slight "abrash" colour streaks - normal for old rugs with natural dyes - and generally the rug is in perfect condition throughout apart from one minute spot repair in the field.
€2800
A very pretty little prayer rug woven by one of the best weavers in the region, showing great flair in both design and colour combination. Note the lovely single bird in the centre of the mihrab and the elegant S-border. Signed C.D., dated 2009. In perfect condition.
€SOLD
This is an interesting, funky and hitherto almost unknown design from the DOBAG repertoire. The weavers themselves called it "yeni desin" (new design) and I have only seen a handful of similar pieces there before they ceased operating the co-op. This rug has thick, solid pile, great warm shades of yellow, blue and red with drops of light red, green, black and undyed wool in the mix. Signed S.C. and dated 2009. In perfect condition.
€SOLD
A striking runner from the DOBAG project, featuring a single row of star medallions inside a powerful "S" border, signed G.Y. and dated 2001. This runner has been in use for some 10 years but looks as good as new after a proper deep clean. In excellent condition throughout, no wear or repairs, a highly decorative and rare runner of a very useful size.
€SOLD
The "Lotus" rugs woven by only a couple of DOBAG families were always among the most sought after by DOBAG enthusiasts. Known to have been woven in this region as far back as the 16th C, these pieces have a design reminiscent of the Kazak group of Caucasian rugs woven in the 19th C that are now at the top end of important collector's pieces internationally.
Signed S.A. with a Y for Yunt Dag, dated 2007. In perfect condition throughout.
€3100
This beautiful prayer rug together with 9 other old DOBAG rugs were recently acquired from the owner who had assembled them over a period of 30 years. All of them are in excellent condition with original documentation, having been either hung on the wall or kept in safe storage. Most of them are from the Yunt Dag DOBAG region and a couple from Ayvacik - all to be posted in the coming days.
As weaving has ceased and the project closed down these beautiful pieces are now rarities and offer an opportunity to all DOBAG fans around the world to acquire perfect pieces from what was an important part of carpet history.
This prayer rug is signed A.E. and dated 1988, in perfect, original condition throughout.
€2200
This is a lovely carpet of a much sought after smaller size than the norm, featuring the traditional medallion design on ivory ground. Note the playful drawing of the border motifs and the wonderful range of natural colours. In excellent condition with full pile apart from small areas of slight surface wear, original side cords and complete ends. There are a couple of minute spot repairs of no consequence.
Vintage Heriz carpets have again become the most sought after of all Oriental carpets worldwide, fitting into contemporary as well as classical interiors. They are hard wearing, highly decorative and guaranteed to add warmth and pleasure to any room. Clean and ready to go.
€6900
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.
€SOLD
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
