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 23/9/2023.
A really lovely antique Caucasian rug with wonderful colours and charming, characterful design. The main border is an early, elaborate of borders found throughout Karabagh, nearly always on ivory ground but rarely as spontaneously drawn as seen this rare piece.
In remarkably good condition throughout, clearly having spent most of its life displayed on a wall (there are old rings fitted around all 4 sides). The silky wool pile is full throughout apart from minor spots of black wool corrosion, the side cords and end finishes are all original and intact. There are no repairs at all which shows you the rug was cherished and well looked after from the beginning.
A closely related rug was published by R. Benardout, London, in Caucasian Rugs 1978, page 58. A real treasure that would liven up any wall or floor, contemporary or traditional, set to last for several generations to come.
€6200
A very attractive Tekke "Bokhara" rug, so named as the city was historically where Turkoman tribes sold their weavings to the local bazaars. Original, 19th Century Tekke rugs are still among the most sought after worldwide, due to their calming rhythm, gentle colours and often very useful formats.
This one is of a most unusual, and desirable, format, perfect for almost any style of interiors from traditional to contemporary.
In very good condition, showing only small areas of very slight pile wear, enough to give it that sought after lived-in look. No repairs, ends secured, side cords sympathetically oversewn, a great furnishing rug that will always hold its value.
€2400
This very attractive rug has the most superb quality wool with an incredible, natural sheen, the beautiful colours glowing like silk. As for most antique Kurdish rugs it's woven on a wool foundation with single wefts, the norm in the Hamadan region. Apart from their structural differences, Kurdish pieces of good age usually appear more spontaneous and quirky - this one no exception which features what may be eagle wings and other quirky touches.
In excellent, original condition with thick, rich pile, set to go for generations even with heavy traffic. Compared to the commercial produce in the region today, this one is a jewel.
€2600
This is a charming example of the spirit displayed in rugs woven in the DOBAG villages. Clearly a family project, or maybe including neighbours, it has at least five signatures, a date (91) plus a Y.D. (Yunt Dag) woven into the upper kilim. You could spend a lot of time spotting the various cats, animals, flowers, evil eye symbols, you name it. A good one for bored children looking for something useful to do!
The only thing missing is the original paperwork and leather label - it was purchased in Germany where there was an unsuccessful attempt at DOBAG sales around the turn of the century. The price would be higher had all documents been available but it is undoubtedly from a DOBAG village, and it's in excellent condition throughout, hardly used and ready to go.
€SOLD
A very beautiful, finely woven example of the great weavings by the Shah Savan tribe. Mafrash is the long panel of what was originally a cradle/storage bag, a favourite wedding and dowry gift by many Oriental tribes. Many of them were unused, only to be seen generations later when it was considered prudent to sell them to the bazaar traders throughout the region. Typically the traders separated the panels to sell separately as decorations.
This exquisite example is very finely woven, of great age, with exceptional colours, all naturally dyed. Free of repairs or wear. It would make a striking decoration draped over a piano or furniture, or just hung on a wall.
€SOLD
A very old, beautiful and soft carpet with a genuine age appeal, all the natural dyes having mellowed and come alive. Note the superb shades of soft blues, greens and rusts, created only by gentle use and great age, impossible to mimic by harsh chemical treatments which is a curse in today's carpet production. The composition of a deep, midnight blue medallion and border create a perfect allover impression that would be ideal for a period country house but equally effective in a stark, contemporary setting to add warmth and comfort.
In good condition throughout with slight, overall surface wear, original side cords and no loss of short end borders. A very attractive, mellow carpet that would transform many sterile interiors.
€7200
A lovely antique Heriz on the much sought after ivory ground and a striking, highly decorative drawing. The design shows many quirky improvisations, meaning the weavers worked freestyle with, at best, a very basic design, leaving room for quirky imperfections.
Antique Heriz carpets have attracted decorators and architects for several decades, due to the bold designs and superb, all natural colours. Finding antique examples in good condition is now extremely difficult and therefore prices for good examples are steadily rising. This one only has small areas of very slight surface wear, virtually free of repairs and only very minor loss of short end knot rows.
€6900
A very striking rug with a beautiful, rhythmic design known locally as "Sarv-o-Kadj" (cypress and spruce), using a spectacular range of top quality natural colours, impervious to water and light, only set to mellow slowly over the years.
The Bakthiari have been subject to much study, including a mid 20th century film "Grass" covering the Bakhtiari when they were still migrating nomads, crossing snow covered mountains in search of grazing for their flocks, carrying their looms on the pack animals.
In very good condition throughout, full pile, original side cords, only minute securements to one short end. Reference J P Willborg of Stockholm, Sweden, author of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, pl 124.
€3400
A very attractive and well woven Kashan rug of a most unusual design and colouring often associated with early Dabir examples. The quality is higher than average with a knot count of 255/sq inch and superb, imported Merino wool for the pile. All dyes are natural with a wide range of the sought after pastel colours you rarely find in early 20th C examples.
The intricate design is very skillfully drawn, the ivory ground offsetting the colours beautifully. In excellent condition and of superb quality the rug is free of repairs other than securement of the short ends, in full pile throughout. An unusual, attractive and pleasing furnishing rug for an elegant room, clean and ready to go.
€4800
Jozans were among the best made village rugs of the Hamadan province, double wefted as against the majority of Hamadans which were single wefted. This technique, coupled with exceptionally high quality wool, makes old Jozans hard wearing and suitable for areas of heavy traffic.
This well preserved early 20th C rug has clearly been well looked after - in full pile throughout, free of repairs or wear, complete with original side cords and only minimal loss (1 knot row) of border at one end. Ref: J P Willlborg, Hamadan, Pl. 29.
€2800
The Kurdish woven artefacts from this region are distinctive and invariably attractive, ranging from large kilims to a range of bags varying in size depending on their intended and traditional use. This chuval is a larger type of bag with a plain kilim backing and beautifully embroidered front side. The Kurds rarely used undyed white wool, instead worked with a range of warm reds, blues, yellows and even greens as seen in this piece.
Originally sold in our gallery in 1992 it has been on a wall ever since and remains in perfect, original and complete condition throughout.
€SOLD
Antique Heriz carpets are the most sought after in the international rug trade, based on their highly decorative designs and beautiful colours. This very attractive piece has a stunning pale sky blue ground framing a warm terra cotta field. Although small Heriz carpets are rare we currently have a choice of 4 around the 10 x 6-7 ft range, all of them very nice and fairly priced.
There are a couple of very minor spots of restoration along both short ends, a few spots of slight surface wear but generally it's in very good condition throughout. A beautiful carpet that would transform any room, contemporary or traditional.
€6800
Dudu was one of the best weavers in the DOBAG project, having performed rug weaving in Ireland twice as well as other countries where a DOBAG outlet had been established. An extraordinary woman, capable of holding a large range of traditional, local designs in her head and also computing them into whatever size she was planning to weave. You can only toy with the idea what her rugs would be worth if she had been born in New York or London.
This design, known as "Altin tabak" (golden plate) is traditionally a must to be included in every girl's dowry in this region. Signed D.O. and also P.L. after I saw it half finished on her loom on a visit to Suleyman Koy. In perfect condition throughout after over 30 years on the floor, now with the added softening and glow of the pile that can only come about over time.
€SOLD
A striking 31 year old DOBAG with the popular all-over star design favoured by the women from this village. It has aged very nicely, now glowing with a rich sheen after a proper wash, the colours beautifully clear and vibrant. In perfect condition, complete with its original leather label, no wear or repairs.
€SOLD
A charming, characterful village rug from the DOBAG project, woven by several members of the renowned Yilmas family in Orselli whose houses I visited many times when the project was in full bloom. To see these happy women working at extraordinary speed, without the aid of cartoons, leaves a formidable, permanent impression in your memory.
The design here is the popular "oklu" (arrow) around which the weavers have placed a big range of symbols including a small house and several evil eye motifs. In good condition only showing very slight surface wear, also there were some spots of minor moth damage now perfectly restored, the rug ready to go.
€SOLD
This beautiful DOBAG, bought originally from us in 1992, features a design seldom seen in the renowned project started in 1980 but now sadly ceased. The 30 plus years of gentle use has seen the strong natural colours mature and soften, still clear and vibrant, with an added patination to the glossy wool that only comes with age and a good wash.
The weaver has signed and dated the rug which comes with its original ID card and certificate. Now in excellent condition there were some small areas of pile damage, all now expertly repaired. A lovely, rare example of the brilliant DOBAG project, the likes of which we'll never see again.
€SOLD
One of a small number of good DOBAG rugs just back in stock, all originally purchased in the early 1990's. This lovely runner is full of quirky playfulness, working from memory as all DOBAGs were, using all the naturally dyed yarns available in the project at the time.
In original condition throughout, kilims and sides intact, only very slight, even surface wear as can be expected in a 30 year old runner. Signed C.S.
€1900
A very beautiful, and rare, 19th C tribal Persian rug, woven by the Kashkuli who were part of the Quashq'ai tribal confederation. The known and published Kashkuli rugs differ in choice of designs and colouring to the main Quashq'ai group, often using the sought after ivory ground covered in all-over designs as against the more commonly found centre medallions.
James Opie, renowned US expert on antique Persian tribal rugs, publishes two related examples in his work Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia, pages 20-21 and 24-25. The latter has an identical border to our rug.
In excellent condition for its considerable age, complete all around with original end kilims and side cords, in near full pile throughout. A rare and beautiful example of Persian tribal rug art.
€SOLD
The main design of large "boteh" forms resembling large bird heads is fairly unique to this tribe. Over my career I have sold 5-6 examples, some with the boteh facing left, some right, some alternating. All were on ivory ground with three finely drawn borders and checkerboard end finishes.
The rug is very finely knotted with the pile cut thin, creating a sumptuous handle, almost reminiscent of the original Kashmir shawls from where the tribe may have picked up the design.
For a 150 year old rug it is still in fairly good condition, the sidecords sympathetically oversewn, the field with some very small spot repairs. Ideally it should be displayed on a wall where it looks beautiful and stays protected from wear for generations to come.
The expert on South Persian tribal rugs James Opie published a similar example in his work Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia, p. 102-103.
€3100
A smart little rug of good colour and well spaced Tekke Gol motifs, inside attractive borders. For generations this style of rug has been one of the most popular furnishing styles worldwide. They tend to fit in perfectly well in almost any setting, classical or contemporary, and also make charming wall hangings with the added advantage of looking great hung sideways.
In very good condition, free of repairs only with oversewn side cords. Good value for a nice, decorative rug of good age, streets ahead of current commercial production in the Far East.
€SOLD
A charming and characterful rug with a colouring and design placing it in the renowned Senneh (Sanandaj) town area, this being from a small village nearby. Clearly woven without cartoons the rug is skillfully created with a powerful border framing the more familiar Senneh style.
Another charming detail is the use of inlaid silk in some of the small botehs in the guard borders, probably dyed with fuchsine or possibly an early synthetic dye. The weaver clearly wanted to make something special, perhaps for dowry or a wedding. In excellent, original condition with full pile throughout, set to last for generations on the floor.
€2800
A superb example of the Tekke "Bokhara" rugs, beautifully drawn with excellent proportions and good natural colours. The warm madder red colour was used to great effect by most of the Turkoman tribes.
After the Russians crushed the tribe in the 1880's a flood of similar carpets entered international rug markets and quickly became the top fashion as the perfect furnishing carpets - quiet, rhythmic, calming and highly decorative as well as of exceptionally high quality they are still much sought after by collectors and decorators worldwide.
In superb condition with original side cords and part of the end kilims still intact, in near full pile throughout. There is one very small, old repair in the lower field which can be restored if required.
€7200
A really charming tribal Quashq'ai rug with considerable character compared to the later, more rigid examples woven after the tribe settled into sedentary life. Beautiful natural colours, a lot of spontaneity in the free style design and an unusual line of 7 human figures at the base of the field. Wedding gift? Dowry? We will never know but it's a rare, happy rug of great character with real collector's potential, worlds apart from the hideous floorcoverings currently in vogue.
€4900
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
