Antique Agra, India, circa 1900Recalling the great carpets of Moghul India, an allover design of undulating vines and palmettes unfolds with classic grace and poise  More »

Antique Agra, India, circa 1900Recalling the great carpets of Moghul India, an allover design of undulating vines and palmettes unfolds with classic grace and poise across the field of this lovely antique Agra. The tone-on-tone coloration causes much of the design to recede into the background, thereby endowing the carpet with a decorative subtlety. The broad main border continues the design and coloration of the field, preserving the decorative restraint of the field in a unified effect. The lustrous pile contributes further to the pale tone-on-tone effect of the palette. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 10 ft 07 in x 14 ft 04 in (3.23 m x 4.37 m)   « Less

Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 09 in x 14 ft 04 in (3.28 m x 4.37 m)

Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 09 in x 14 ft 04 in (3.28 m x 4.37 m)   « Less

A stately but exuberant design of flowering vines spreads elegantly across the field of this sumptuous antique Kerman. At the center of the field is a scalloped diamond  More »

A stately but exuberant design of flowering vines spreads elegantly across the field of this sumptuous antique Kerman. At the center of the field is a scalloped diamond medallion filled with lush flowering vines around a star-shaped core. Arabesque cornerpieces complete the field with a delicate mesh of flowering vines in the intervening space. A vinescroll main border frames the field, along with flanking minor vinecsroll borders. The richness of the design is mollified by the minimal contrast of the subtle tone-on-tone coloration, underscoring the superior decorative quality of this lovely carpet. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft x 14 ft 04 in (3.66 m x 4.37 m)   « Less

Antique Kerman, Lavar, Persia, late 19th centuryAn exquisitely fine and delicate design of ogival medallions unfolds gracefully across the lacey field of this sumptuous  More »

Antique Kerman, Lavar, Persia, late 19th centuryAn exquisitely fine and delicate design of ogival medallions unfolds gracefully across the lacey field of this sumptuous antique Kerman. Jewel-like radial palmettes in cruciform array enrich the interior of the medallions, while similar forms arrayed more loosely fill the remainder of the field. The delicacy of the design is complemented beautifully by the softness of the palette with pale salmon, blue, and cream tones, highlighted Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft x 14 ft 05 in (3.05 m x 4.39 m)   « Less

Antique Silk Persian Tabriz, circa 1900Tradition holds that only God can make a perfect thing, but this exquisite antique silk Tabriz certainly comes close. For sheer harmony  More »

Antique Silk Persian Tabriz, circa 1900Tradition holds that only God can make a perfect thing, but this exquisite antique silk Tabriz certainly comes close. For sheer harmony of graphic detail and overall grandeur, this carpet has no peers, going back to the classic Persian masterpieces made for the Safavid Shahs. On this carpet the traditional emphasis on rich effects of color is still at work, in contrast to the more subdued, golden palette more typical of antique Tabrizes. Beneath the delicate, lacy texture of the arabesque detail that fills the medallion and comer pieces, there is a remarkable geometric substructure of star, cruciform, and oval shapes, attesting to the masterful design of the carpet. We enjoy the rug at the surface level, but only because there is a world of complexity just beyond our view. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 07 in x 14 ft 05 in (3.23 m x 4.39 m)   « Less

Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 10 in x 14 ft 05 in (3.30 m x 4.39 m)

Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 10 in x 14 ft 05 in (3.30 m x 4.39 m)   « Less

Antique Ningshia, China, circa 1900. The restrained grandeur of classical Chinese rug weaving informs this masterful Ningshia carpet, made in an imperial manufactury in the  More »

Antique Ningshia, China, circa 1900. The restrained grandeur of classical Chinese rug weaving informs this masterful Ningshia carpet, made in an imperial manufactury in the waning years of the Manchu dynasty. Here amidst a relatively open blue field, floral sprays, flying birds, and dragons hover above a cherry blossom tree with a perching phoenix. A main border of cloudbands and ‘hundred gift’ motifs surrounds the field with minor chain and fretwork borders added for framing contrast. The grace, refinement, and naturalism of the drawing imparts an impression of reality amidst the essential fantasy of the design. Style: Chinese Origin: China Size: 11 ft 10 in x 14 ft 05 in (3.61 m x 4.39 m)   « Less

42465 Antique Kerman, Persia, circa 1900A stunning pattern of vines and palmettes derived from classical Persian Kerman 'vase carpets' unfolds elegantly across the rich red  More »

42465 Antique Kerman, Persia, circa 1900A stunning pattern of vines and palmettes derived from classical Persian Kerman 'vase carpets' unfolds elegantly across the rich red ground of this sumptuous antique Persian rug. A sinuous vinescroll border, also of classical Kerman derivation, is set dramatically against deep blue-black ground, providing a luxuriant contrast to the field. While many Kerman carpets of this period emulate such classical forerunners, this example is unusual in preserving the original palette of deep reds, blues, and golds. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 09 in x 14 ft 06 in (3.58 m x 4.42 m)   « Less

Antique Oushak / Ushak, Turkey, circa 1900 This grand and lovely antique Oushak has the soft mauve and creamy palette that makes such carpets so highly sought after, but it  More »

Antique Oushak / Ushak, Turkey, circa 1900 This grand and lovely antique Oushak has the soft mauve and creamy palette that makes such carpets so highly sought after, but it is extraordinary for the delicacy and finesse of its design. In place of the bold allover spray of large-scale palmettes, this carpet has a finely detailed medallion and scalloped cornerpieces, along with elegant sprays of vines in the intervening field, and a rich little palmette border on a soft aubergine ground. Rarely do Oushaks preserve the formal grace and poise of classical forerunners in this way. Style: Oushak / Ushak Origin: Turkey Size: 11 ft x 14 ft 06 in (3.35 m x 4.42 m)   « Less

Antique Khotan Oriental Rug, circa 1900This stately antique Khotan is a masterpiece of formal design and restrained color. Various stylized plants and geometric motifs hover  More »

Antique Khotan Oriental Rug, circa 1900This stately antique Khotan is a masterpiece of formal design and restrained color. Various stylized plants and geometric motifs hover about a central openwork medallion, all enclosed by a streamlined cartouche border whose form and tonal density contrast nicely with the openness of the field. The palette in soft cocoa, taupe, and cool champagne tones lends itself beautifully to the reserved quality of the design. Style: Khotan Origin: East Turkestan Size: 11 ft 11 in x 14 ft 06 in (3.63 m x 4.42 m)   « Less