Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAn array of vines and classic Persian palmettes in an allover ‘Mina Khani’ configuration sways gracefully  More »

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAn array of vines and classic Persian palmettes in an allover ‘Mina Khani’ configuration sways gracefully across the soft apricot field of this dazzlingly beautiful antique Persian Sultanabad. The various tonalities of the vine and palmettes, rendered in soft blues, greens, and aubergines beautifully complement the delicate warmth of the ground color. The vinescroll border set against blue provides the perfect contrasting frame for the field, while still echoing much of its coloration. The exceptional luster and quality of the wool maximizes the luxurious effects of the color and design. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 10 in x 14 ft 10 in (3.30 m x 4.52 m)   « Less

Antique Peking, Northeast China, early twentieth centuryWhile Chinese carpets can often be very spare or minimal in their approach to design, those with absolutely no  More »

Antique Peking, Northeast China, early twentieth centuryWhile Chinese carpets can often be very spare or minimal in their approach to design, those with absolutely no design at all are extremely rare. This supremely elegant antique Peking carpet has a field that consists only of a soft sandy maize color. Its interest resides in the depth and warmth of the tonality and in the lustrous quality of the wool. As such it is a remarkably flexible decorative piece providing the richness of a carpet with a virtually limitless decorative flexibility. Style: Chinese Origin: China Size: 8. ft 11 in x 14 ft 11 in (2.72 m x 4.55 m)   « Less

Antique Kashan, Persia, circa 1880 - The luminous silk pile of this opulent antique Kashan renders the delicate palette of soft greens, mauves, and sandy tan especially  More »

Antique Kashan, Persia, circa 1880 - The luminous silk pile of this opulent antique Kashan renders the delicate palette of soft greens, mauves, and sandy tan especially beautiful. The rich allover design has just a hint of a medallion at the center, amidst the lush sprays of sinuous vines and tiny flowers that sway gently across the surface. The sparing use of deep mauve in the flowers echoes in the ground of the main border, which provides an exceptionally lovely color complement to the sandy minor borders and field. Style: Kashan Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 04 in x 14 ft 11 in (3.15 m x 4.55 m)   « Less

Antique Sarouk, Persia, late nineteenth century. This room-size antique Sarouk carpet is quite unusual among rugs of its kind. Here a scalloped ivory ground medallion sits  More »

Antique Sarouk, Persia, late nineteenth century. This room-size antique Sarouk carpet is quite unusual among rugs of its kind. Here a scalloped ivory ground medallion sits within a rich red field surrounded by cornerpieces in blue, ivory, and green. The entire composition is brimming with flowering vines and botehs like a fine Kashmir shawl. The soft green spiral vinescroll border set on an ivory ground is the epitome of elegance, providing the ideal frame for the design and palette of the field. Style: Sarouk Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 03 in x 14 ft 11 in (3.12 m x 4.55 m)   « Less

Antique Serab, Persia, circa 1900 Antique Serab carpets like this are renowned for their precise geometric design and the subdued elegance of their controlled palette.  More »

Antique Serab, Persia, circa 1900 Antique Serab carpets like this are renowned for their precise geometric design and the subdued elegance of their controlled palette. Serabs tend to be made in a long or runner format with serial medallions, which makes this room-sized example with its fine, allover design unusual. Here the field consists entirely of small paisley or ‘Boteh’ motifs, arranged in tightly arranged, staggered horizontal rows. The design is so closely worked that the tan ground is little more than a contrasting outline for the Botehs. Several running vinescroll borders frame the field, providing an effective contrast in design and scale, while preserving the delicate precision of the drawing. Style: Serab Origin: Persia Size: 8. ft 11 in x 14 ft 11 in (2.72 m x 4.55 m)   « Less

Antique Soumak Carpet, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryCaucasian flatwoven carpets in Sumak technique are famed for their rendering of classic Turkish medallion and Persian  More »

Antique Soumak Carpet, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryCaucasian flatwoven carpets in Sumak technique are famed for their rendering of classic Turkish medallion and Persian floral carpet designs. This extraordinary example, however, has what appears to be a very unusual allover red lattice design set against a soft blue ground, with radial patterns within each lattice compartment. A closer look, however, reveals that the design is a staggered pattern of blue diamond medallions closely together against a red field that hardly shows through. The crisp geometric drawing is precise and exacting, in the best tradition of Caucasian Soumaks. The floral rosette border, and minor vinescroll borders add a Persian touch, but with the same coloration and drawing as the field, giving the enire piece a remarkably unified decorative emphasis. Style: Sumak / Soumak Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 08 in x 15 ft (3.25 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Antique Agra, India, circa 1900The monumental, geometric medallion design of this magnificent antique Indian Agra is inspired the Serapi and Heriz carpets of northwest  More »

Antique Agra, India, circa 1900The monumental, geometric medallion design of this magnificent antique Indian Agra is inspired the Serapi and Heriz carpets of northwest Persia. The star-like medallion with its quatrefoil core commands the field, counterbalanced by cornerpieces of similar design, and with sprays of stylized vines and palmettes in the intervening field. A finely-proportioned ‘turtle’ or vinescroll border frames the field and echoes the coloration of the medallion. But while the design pays homage to Persian tradition, the delicate palette of tans, mauves, and ivory is classic Agra, and it renders the whole effect of the carpet more subtle and decorative despite the bold drawing and scale. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 10 ft 04 in x 15 ft (3.15 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 06 in x 15 ft (3.20 m x 4.57 m)

Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 06 in x 15 ft (3.20 m x 4.57 m)   « Less

Antique Khorassan Persian Rug, circa 1900A graceful, flowering tree of life with spiraling branches spreads across the rich sea blue field of this sumptuous antique  More »

Antique Khorassan Persian Rug, circa 1900A graceful, flowering tree of life with spiraling branches spreads across the rich sea blue field of this sumptuous antique Khorassan. Finely proportioned columns support abstractly rendered arches at either end of the field. The relative simplicity and openness of the field contrasts with the closely detailed complexity of the multiple borders, while the consistent use of blue and sandy tones across the carpet provides a unified decorative effect. Style: Khorassan Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft 10 in x 15 ft 01 in (3.91 m x 4.60 m)   « Less

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA brilliant design of classic Persian arabesque vinescrolls unfolds on a grand scale across the rich red field of this  More »

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA brilliant design of classic Persian arabesque vinescrolls unfolds on a grand scale across the rich red field of this arresting antique Sultanabad. The articulation of the vines in ivory, soft green, and creamy saffron adds considerable complexity and nuance to the design, especially against the red ground. The main border consists of a running vinescroll with rosettes and flowers set against a dark navy ground that contrasts beautifully in scale and color with the field. The wool of the pile, like the colors, is of exceptionally fine quality. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft x 15 ft 01 in (3.66 m x 4.60 m)   « Less