Antique Ghiordes, Turkey, circa 1900 bb This impressive antique Ghiordes has a grand medallion design derived from classical Turkish forerunners. The hexagonal medallion  More »

Antique Ghiordes, Turkey, circa 1900 bb This impressive antique Ghiordes has a grand medallion design derived from classical Turkish forerunners. The hexagonal medallion descended from small type Ghiordes rugs of the eighteenth century occupies much of the field, surrounded by four monumental boteh or paisley motifs serving as cornerpieces. A scatter of smaller floral motifs fill the medallion and the botehs, with a host of pinwheel flowers strewn across the rest of the field Several narrow borders frame the field, each with vinescroll designs made up of leaves and palmettes strung end to end. The soft salmon and mauve palette along with the lustrous wool pile make this a supremely elegant and decorative rug like the great Oushak carpets produced nearby. Size: 15 ft 09 in x 18 ft 06 in (4.80 m x 5.64 m)   « Less

Antique Sarouk, Persia, circa 1900This antique Sarouk has a lush design of writhing vines emitting flowers and palmettes surrounding a central quatrefoil medallion. The  More »

Antique Sarouk, Persia, circa 1900This antique Sarouk has a lush design of writhing vines emitting flowers and palmettes surrounding a central quatrefoil medallion. The palette is varied, with multiple shades of red, terracotta, apricot, and green accented, with bits of ivory that sparkle amidst the warm tones. The design is so densely articulated that the deep navy ground functions mostly as an emphatic outlines for the other design elements. Ivory-ground vinescroll spandrels fill out the corners of the field, virtually merging with the vinescroll borders to produce a larger framing effect for the field design. The richness of the composition receives an added tactile emphasis from the lush, silky pile. Size: 10 ft x 18 ft 07 in (3.05 m x 5.66 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh Long Carpet, Caucasus, late nineteenth century Antique Caucasian Karabagh rugs are often related closely to Persian weaving from further south, although  More »

Antique Karabagh Long Carpet, Caucasus, late nineteenth century Antique Caucasian Karabagh rugs are often related closely to Persian weaving from further south, although some like this unusually elegant piece reflect the design of western European carpets. Here the scrolls and lifelike flowers of the field are derived from the classic French Aubusson and Savonnerie carpets, although adapted to an allover design in the Persian manner. The cool palette of soft golden tones set against slatey gray-blue ground nicely offsets the richness and density of the design. In contrast to the curling scrolls of the field, the narrow border utilizes a running garland of life-like flowers, while retaining the same coloration for a larger harmonious decorative effect. Size: 6. ft 07 in x 18 ft 07 in (2.01 m x 5.66 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh rug, circa 1900 - This Karabagh runner belongs to a special group of decorative rugs, probably Armenian in origin, that played off European designs. The  More »

Antique Karabagh rug, circa 1900 - This Karabagh runner belongs to a special group of decorative rugs, probably Armenian in origin, that played off European designs. The field displays a pattern of flowers and boldly proportioned acanthus vines in soft cocoa, tans and rose on a chocolate ground. Pale colored cornerpieces set the field off as an octagonal medallion. The slender border, virtually a guard stripe, is highly unusual, especially in contrast to the bold forms of the field. Size: 3. ft 11 in x 18 ft 08 in (1.19 m x 5.69 m)   « Less

Antique Mehajeran Sarouk, Persia, early twentieth centuryAntique Mehajerans are in a class apart from other Sarouks by virtue of their more open designs and their richer,  More »

Antique Mehajeran Sarouk, Persia, early twentieth centuryAntique Mehajerans are in a class apart from other Sarouks by virtue of their more open designs and their richer, more varied palette. On this lush example stylized sprays of flowering plants and shrubs and classical Persian palmette motifs in ivory and various shades of blue sprawl across a soft, especially clear red field. These forms are rearranged to produce a vinescroll main border where they are set against a deep blue ground to frame the field emphatically. The plush velvety pile for which Sarouks are famed underscores the air of luxury achieved by the design. Size: 12 ft 05 in x 18 ft 08 in (3.78 m x 5.69 m)   « Less

Antique Agra, India, late nineteenth centuryThe greatness of classical Indo-Persian carpet design comes alive on this spectacular antique Agra. At the center a small  More »

Antique Agra, India, late nineteenth centuryThe greatness of classical Indo-Persian carpet design comes alive on this spectacular antique Agra. At the center a small quatrefoil medallion of lotus flowers spews forth strapwork vines brimming with palmettes of every shape and description. The golden vines and the pastel floral detail sparkle against the richness of the classic red ground. The ivory ground palmette border recalls the detail and palette of Moghul court carpets, providing the perfect foil for the red ground field. The lustrous wool pile enables the transparent depth of the color to achieve its maximum effect and beauty. Size: 14 ft x 19 ft (4.27 m x 5.79 m)   « Less

Antique Mehajeran Sarouk, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAntique Mehajerans like this are distinguished from other Sarouks by their more monumental scale, and their richer,  More »

Antique Mehajeran Sarouk, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAntique Mehajerans like this are distinguished from other Sarouks by their more monumental scale, and their richer, more dramatic coloration. Here a central rosette spews forth grand design of swaying vines brimming with leaves and flowers in shades of red and gold against a blue back field. The scale of the border is much smaller, underscoring the grandeur of the field, while also using a terracotta ground to achieve a framing color contrast. The lustrous, almost silken pile emphasizes the golden, jewel-like coloration of the carpet as a whole. Size: 12 ft x 19 ft (3.66 m x 5.79 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, circa 1900Although antique Karabaghs are among the most classic types of Caucasian village rugs, they do at times reflect the influence of western  More »

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, circa 1900Although antique Karabaghs are among the most classic types of Caucasian village rugs, they do at times reflect the influence of western carpet design, like this lovely example. Here an elaborate pattern of swirling acanthus scrolls derived from French Aubusson and Savonnerie carpets winds its way down the field. The use of this motif on such as scale as the main design element, however, is unparalleled in the French forerunners and betrays the sensibilities of the Karabagh weaver, as does the distinctive palette of terracotta, cream, and ivory set against a deep chocolate ground. Size: 4. ft 01 in x 19 ft (1.24 m x 5.79 m)   « Less

Antique Bidjar, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAn allover trellis pattern of rococo scrolls inspired by French Savonnerie carpets spreads dynamically across the field of this  More »

Antique Bidjar, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAn allover trellis pattern of rococo scrolls inspired by French Savonnerie carpets spreads dynamically across the field of this richly ornamental antique Bidjar. Within the trellis are naturalistic roses set dramatically against a black ground. The main border features an exquisitely rendered ‘turtle’ or arabesque vinescroll that returns us the world of oriental carpets, although it suits the French-inspired field remarkably well. The rich, almost pungent palette owes nothing to the European style that inspired the field design, however. Rather, it is classically Bidjar, as is the precision of the drawing and the weave. Size: 12 ft 02 in x 19 ft 01 in (3.71 m x 5.82 m)   « Less

ON HOLD 44615 Antique Agra, India, late nineteenth century - The carpets woven in Agra in the late nineteenth century are the proud heirs of the great tradition of  More »

ON HOLD 44615 Antique Agra, India, late nineteenth century - The carpets woven in Agra in the late nineteenth century are the proud heirs of the great tradition of Mughal court carpets produced there two centuries earlier, but seldom do they retain the perfection of design and saturated color of such forerunners as this magnificent example does. An allover design of lush, swaying palmettes in pale green, saffron, ocre, and ivory repeats rhythmically across the rich red ground. The main border consists of round and oblong cartouches with lace-like detail set against red like the field, while minor rosette borders and guard stripes add the requisite framing contrast. The square proportions are also quite unusual for a rug that really has no peer. Size: 18 ft x 19 ft 01 in (5.49 m x 5.82 m)   « Less