16th – 17th century Safavid period carpets, Persia
Sothebys ‘Important Carpets from The Collection of William A. Clark’ 5 June 2013. Lot 12. The Clark ‘sickle-leaf,’ vine scroll and palmette carpet, probably Kirman, Southeast Persia, 17th century. Size approximately 8ft. 9in. by 6ft. 5in. (2.67 by 1.96m.). Pile generally good, dense, ranging from near original 1/10 inch closely shorn to low to knotheads and spot foundation (particularly across center of carpet). Dark browns oxidized to knotheads and spot foundation. Some scattered repiling to dark browns and to rose red field; not extensive. Some of deep red ground also oxidized down to knotheads and spot foundation. Scattered moth damage (mostly along ends); not extensive. A 1-1/2 inch by 1 inch reweave in upper center edge. Upper right corner with a 1 inch by 1 inch reweave. Repiled hole in upper left corner. A 1 inch by 1 inch reweave on left edge. A small, 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch repaired hole in field. Sides with remnants of rose red outer guard stripe, now with warp cords partially secured by later overcasting. Ends with losses into light blue guard stripes and with remnants of rose red and dark brown outer guard stripes. Old linen hanging sleeve sewn to reverse of bottom edge, upper edge with velcro strip sewn on reverse. Sound fabric, flexible handle, dense, robust weave, good saturated color. Estimate $5,000,000 – 7,000,000. Sold 33.765.000 USDSothebys ‘Carpets from The Collection of William A. Clark’ 5 June 2013. Lot 23. An Isphahan rug, Central Persia, 17th century. Size approximately 7ft. 1in. by 5ft. (2.16 by 1.52m.) Pile generally good, near original closely shorn 1/10 inch in borders. Scattered areas of wear and foldwear low to knotheads and foundation throughout. Dark browns also oxidized to knotheads and foundation. Some dark browns in palmettes repiled with slightly lighter brown, most outlines untouched. Scattered repiling to burgundy, now a lighter rose. Foldwear areas with slits and fraying due to fragility of silk warp. Numerous repaired slits along edges. Smaller repaired slits and holes in field. Upper left corner with a 10 inch repaired slit. A smaller repaired slit in lower left corner. A 4 inch by 3 inch reweave in lower left corner with attendant smaller reaweaves, now faded. Sides with breaks and fraying to selvage. Lower end with small remnants of original ivory, red and indigo striped kilim end finish. Both ends missing guardstripes and fraying. Recommend very careful handling due to fragile, and breaking, silk warps. Estimate $40,000-60,000. Sold $395.000.Austria Auction Company Fine Antique Oriental Rugs XXXIII & Tribal Art 10 June 2023. Lot 108. Early Safavid Isfahan, 225 x 137 cm (7′ 5″ x 4′ 6″). Persia, 17th century. Condition: very good according to age, low pile in places, signs of use at sides and ends, minor small repairs, soft handle (not fragile). Estimate: € 120000 – 180000. Sold for € 100.000Sothebys Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets 27 October 2021. Lot 262. A Safavid silk and metal thread ‘Polonaise’ rug, Central Persia (probably Isfahan), early 17th century. Approximately 213 by 142cm., including fringes. The Pile: Silk pile, overall in good to very good condition, generally approximately 15mm in depth, with some oxidisation to some of the colours, revealing knot bars. Oxidisation is principally found in the walnut browns and the dark beige: In the left hand upper border there is minor oxidisation of the walnut to reveal spot foundation; there is also some oxidisation of the taupe ground of the outer guard stripes. The silver metal thread is tarnished as normal. Where the field looks dark, the silver is on a peachy yellow thread, and where it looks greyer, the silver is on a white silk thread. The metal might be able to be burnished to bring back its sparkle. The sides: The edges are single corded, wrapped in silk and are almost completely original except a few very minor overcast areas. The ends: original fringes on both ends with original flat kilim finish; missing a few bottom fringes. The bottom fringes with original finish with the loop ends. There is a small area missing the metal thread wrapping (wefts still mainly extant though) of approximately 25 mm in length and 7mm in width in the lower left hand corner of the field. No visible restorations. Scattered small stains (wax?) but should come out, so the rug might benefit from a light surface clean. The rug is lined in linen with original hanging loops and rod casings. The lining has been partly unpicked this week to reveal the back, which is in very good condition. Very pretty colours, sophisticated drawing – a really lovely example. Estimate 300,000 – 500,000 GBP, Lot Sold 922,500 GBPSothebys Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets 10 June 2020. Lot 266. AN EARLY SAFAVID CARPET FRAGMENT, NORTH WEST PERSIA, first half 16th century, approximately 323 by 280 cm. Condition: The fragment is from the upper part of the field, (medallion at bottom). Fragmentary and partly pieced: the field and right hand border are integral, whilst the left hand border has been attached along outer edge of inner guard stripe; upper left hand corner of left hand border pieced together (approx. 10 pieces); 3/4 of upper guard at upper edge reinserted; upper right hand portion integral. Pile is generally evenly low to knot heads and spot foundation; blues have survived best, extensive oxidisation to crimson field with quite a lot of later repiling, visible as strawberry pink. Scattered spot repiling in medallion, possibly old insect damage, now visible particularly as the bright turquoise blue areas in the cobalt blue lobes. Repaired split across right hand border, multiple small scattered areas of repiling and cobbling throughout. Colour remains quite fresh. Carpet might benefit from a clean, but still reads very clearly. Estimate 15,000 – 25,000 GBP. Lot Sold 17,500 GBP.
