Antique Khotan, East Turkestan, late nineteenth century. Antique Khotans combine the best of Chinese, Central Asian, and Persian rug design, and this splendid example is  More »

Antique Khotan, East Turkestan, late nineteenth century. Antique Khotans combine the best of Chinese, Central Asian, and Persian rug design, and this splendid example is certainly no exception. The rounded octagonal medallions with rosette and pomegranate filler patterns are in the classic Khotan or Yarkand tradition, as are the stylized shrubs that fill the surrounding areas of the rich rust red field. The fretwork cornerpieces, like the meander and cloud borders derive from Chinese tradition. Still, it is the dynamic, pulsating use of color here that makes this carpet come so alive, nicely balancing the brilliant effect of the crisp, dynamic drawing. Style: Khotan Origin: East Turkestan Size: 6. ft 05 in x 13 ft 04 in (1.96 m x 4.06 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz, Persia, circa 1900A complex ‘Mina Khani’ pattern of vines and palmettes unfolds in allover symmetry across the field of this supremely elegant  More »

Antique Tabriz, Persia, circa 1900A complex ‘Mina Khani’ pattern of vines and palmettes unfolds in allover symmetry across the field of this supremely elegant antique Tabriz. A mesh of delicate vines entirely fills the spaces between the main elements. The soft and restrained tone-on-tone coloration of the carpet, however, mollifies this almost dizzying complexity, causing the subordinate detail to receded demurely into the background. A slightly darker coloration with cinnamon and chocolate tones helps to distinguish the arabesque vinescroll border from the field, accenting its faming function, while still preserving a uniform design texture. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 9. ft 02 in x 13 ft 04 in (2.79 m x 4.06 m)   « Less

Antique Bakshaish, Persia, late nineteenth centuryThe antique Bakshaish carpets of Northwest Persia are famed for adapting the bold geometric sensibility of tribal or village  More »

Antique Bakshaish, Persia, late nineteenth centuryThe antique Bakshaish carpets of Northwest Persia are famed for adapting the bold geometric sensibility of tribal or village weaving to formal, room-sized decorative rugs. This magnificent example has a stridently graphic, almost heraldic design of shield-like palmette medallions arrayed across the field, with a scatter of minor rosettes as space fillers in the intervening areas. A crisply angular vinescroll border with larger rosettes frames the field, enclosed by several more minor floral borders. The cool, reserved palette of cinnamon and tan tones offers the perfect counterpoint to the assertiveness of the design, balancing its boldness with subtlety and restraint. The lustrous wool adds that perfect tactile touch to the dazzling visual effects. Style: Bakshaish Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 03 in x 13 ft 05 in (3.43 m x 4.09 m)   « Less

Antique Sarouk, Persia, early twentieth centuryThis lavish antique Sarouk is exceptional for its color and medallion design. Early twentieth-century Sarouks of this kind were  More »

Antique Sarouk, Persia, early twentieth centuryThis lavish antique Sarouk is exceptional for its color and medallion design. Early twentieth-century Sarouks of this kind were generally designed in allover patterns, but here we encounter a classic Persian medallion format with cornerpieces. The arrangement and articulation of the intervening vinescrolls is also more richly detailed. The rather large minor borders flanking the main one are also unusual, as is the use of the blue green accents across the entire carpet. The plush pile and lustrous wool are classic Sarouk. Here as always they greatly enhance the luxuriant effects of the design and palette. Style: Sarouk Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 08 in x 13 ft 05 in (3.25 m x 4.09 m)   « Less

Antique Kerman Rug, Persia, circa 1900 - The design of this lavish antique Kerman is so finely detailed and complex that one can barely grasp its constituent elements - vases  More »

Antique Kerman Rug, Persia, circa 1900 - The design of this lavish antique Kerman is so finely detailed and complex that one can barely grasp its constituent elements - vases in staggered arrangement spewing flowering braches and vines that spread gracefully across the mid blue ground of the field. The same elements are arranged in a linear repeat to make up the border, and with the same cinnamon and mid blue palette of the field. The result is a remarkably unified decorative effect despite the constant variation of the pattern. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 9. ft 08 in x 13 ft 05 in (2.95 m x 4.09 m)   « Less

44109 Antique Teheran, Persia, early twentieth century This splendid antique Tehran has a complex Herati pattern in the classic style of the great Persian masterpieces.  More »

44109 Antique Teheran, Persia, early twentieth century This splendid antique Tehran has a complex Herati pattern in the classic style of the great Persian masterpieces. Across the field swirling spiral vines and ‘sickle’ palmettes in ivory, mauve, and cinnamon repeat in allover symmetry against a rich midnight blue ground. A minor vinescroll border transitions out from the field to the main border of swept intersecting vines and palmettes, whose unusual scalloped outer edge echoes the curvature and placement of vinescrolls within it. The reserved palette nicely balances or offsets the detailed complexity of the design. Style: Tehran Origin: Iran Size: 9. ft 11 in x 13 ft 05 in (3.02 m x 4.09 m)   « Less

Antique Sivas, Turkey, circa 1900A richly detailed but remarkably spacious arabesque medallion pattern graces the field of this magnificent antique Sivas. The sumptuous  More »

Antique Sivas, Turkey, circa 1900A richly detailed but remarkably spacious arabesque medallion pattern graces the field of this magnificent antique Sivas. The sumptuous ornamentation of the medallion and cornerpieces continues into the framing border, but the complexity of these elements is nicely offset by the openness of the composition, which allows the beauty of the soft apricot, ivory, and mauve coloration to predominate. Style: Sivas Origin: Turkey Size: 12 ft x 13 ft 06 in (3.66 m x 4.11 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz Rug, Persia, late nineteenth century - A classical Persian scalloped medallion of interlacing vines floats elegantly within the open red field on this  More »

Antique Tabriz Rug, Persia, late nineteenth century - A classical Persian scalloped medallion of interlacing vines floats elegantly within the open red field on this exquisite antique Tabriz. Scalloped cornerpieces approximate the shape and coloration of the medallion, while echoing the floral filler motifs in soft blues and mauve. A border of palmettes constitutes the enclosing frame, using the coloration of the field to unify the overall visual effect. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft x 13 ft 06 in (3.05 m x 4.11 m)   « Less

Antique Kerman rug from Persia, late 19th centuryA grand, richly detailed medallion floats serenely on an open field surrounded by lush vinescroll cornerpieces on this  More »

Antique Kerman rug from Persia, late 19th centuryA grand, richly detailed medallion floats serenely on an open field surrounded by lush vinescroll cornerpieces on this antique Kerman masterpiece of classic Persian design. The lovely soft red tones of the medallion complement the accenting dark ground of the cornerpieces, while they both contrast beautifully with the soft champagne of the intervening ground. The contrasts recur on a smaller, finer scale in the multiple small borders, nicely balancing the monumentality of the field. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 03 in x 13 ft 06 in (3.12 m x 4.11 m)   « Less

Style: Kashan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 06 in x 13 ft 06 in (3.20 m x 4.11 m)

Style: Kashan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 06 in x 13 ft 06 in (3.20 m x 4.11 m)   « Less