This elegant antique Kerman has a design derived from the famous classical Persian ‘Vase Carpets.’ A rich array of elaborately stylized palmettes, cloudbands,  More »

This elegant antique Kerman has a design derived from the famous classical Persian ‘Vase Carpets.’ A rich array of elaborately stylized palmettes, cloudbands, and flowering vines in shades of blue and ivory undulates outward from the ‘vase’ at the very center of the design, all amidst a mauve-gold field. A palmette vinescroll comprises the main border, accompanied by flanking vinescroll minor borders. The elaborate complexity of the design is beautifully balanced or offset by the cool, reserved palette, nicely enhancing the decorative potential of the carpet. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft x 16 ft (3.35 m x 4.88 m)   « Less

Antique Agra, India, Early 20th Century - Featuring lotus-flower palmettes and a delicate color scheme inspired by Safavid Persia, this elegant, room-sized carpet from Agra  More »

Antique Agra, India, Early 20th Century - Featuring lotus-flower palmettes and a delicate color scheme inspired by Safavid Persia, this elegant, room-sized carpet from Agra embodies the region’s luxurious designs and tastes. The characteristic Moughal-style Shah Abbas pattern allows a great deal of the soft-green background to show through the network of flowers and branches. Elaborate palmettes and floral rosettes are used in both the field and borders for continuity. Intricate variations of the alternating cloud band and palmette pattern in the border can also be seen in the carpet's ornate guard bands. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 13 ft x 16 ft (3.96 m x 4.88 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz from Northwest Persia, circa 1900Vertical columns of sand colored spiral vinescrolls undulate across the deep blue field of this lush antique Tabriz, enclosing  More »

Antique Tabriz from Northwest Persia, circa 1900Vertical columns of sand colored spiral vinescrolls undulate across the deep blue field of this lush antique Tabriz, enclosing wreaths and fine sprays of tiny flowers. The vines themselves display a striking combination of curling rhythm and dynamic angularity, imparting a vital, kinetic tension to the overall composition. The border utilizes a similar fusion of opposites, but rendered in soft sandy tones against the deep blue of the field. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 09 in x 16 ft (3.28 m x 4.88 m)   « Less

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth century A grand, sweeping design of curling, leafy vines and palmettes unfolds in dynamic allover symmetry on this dazzling  More »

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth century A grand, sweeping design of curling, leafy vines and palmettes unfolds in dynamic allover symmetry on this dazzling antique Sultanabad. The motifs and their arrangement derive from classical Persian sources, but here they are rendered with a scale and dynamism that are quintessentially Sultanabad. The border system offers a total contrast in scale and design, with its finely-proportioned repeating rosettes and floral cartouches, a perfect foil to the grandeur and animation of the field. Ultimately though, it is the rich, saturated palette that sets this carpet apart. The range and quality of the color here are simply off the charts. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Pakistan Size: 12 ft x 16 ft (3.66 m x 4.88 m)   « Less

Antique Kerman (Kirman) Persian Carpet, late nineteenth centuryStar-form cartouches filled with plants fruit trees, willows, and cypress repeat rhythmically across the  More »

Antique Kerman (Kirman) Persian Carpet, late nineteenth centuryStar-form cartouches filled with plants fruit trees, willows, and cypress repeat rhythmically across the field of this stately and highly unusual antique Ravar Kerman. The allover structure of the pattern is transformed or modified by the coordinated use of color, forming ever larger concentric diamonds in ivory, blue, green, and purple, like ripples in the wake of a stone dropped in water. The design is a virtual banquet in paradise. In the borders with their vine scrolls and floral garlands, we return to the traditional Kerman repertoire. The weave is extremely fine which complements the careful, detailed and suave drawing. An absolute masterpiece of design. Style: Kerman Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 11 in x 16 ft 01 in (3.63 m x 4.90 m)   « Less

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA dynamic yet delicate mesh of soft green arabesque tendrils arranged as staggered hexagonal cartouches repeats  More »

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA dynamic yet delicate mesh of soft green arabesque tendrils arranged as staggered hexagonal cartouches repeats rhythmically across the champagne field of this elegant antique Sultanabad. Yet the arabesques recede subtly into a scatter of small flowers that fill the intervening spaces, creating a lacy overall effect. The border of smaller, more finely worked arabesques shares the same color arrangement as the field , imparting unity to the overall design while still varying it. tyle: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 15 ft 04 in x 16 ft 02 in (4.67 m x 4.93 m)   « Less

Antique Chinese, China, Late 19th Century - This magnificent antique Chinese carpet, undoubtedly produced in an imperial workshop, displays the famous 'hundred and one  More »

Antique Chinese, China, Late 19th Century - This magnificent antique Chinese carpet, undoubtedly produced in an imperial workshop, displays the famous 'hundred and one gifts' pattern. An array of lavish objects or furnishings - vases, chests, flowerpots, etc. - float in life-like perspective on a soft camel ground all around an openwork central medallion with stylized flowers and a pair of dragons. Delicate vinescroll cornerpieces and dragon half-medallions appear along the edges of the field. Trompe l'oeuil meander borders enclose the whole design. The exceptional quality of the composition and the drawing is matched by the lovely colors - reds blues, and rusts, and tans - which are warm and soft yet effective in their contrasts. Style: Chinese Origin: China Size: 14 ft 02 in x 16 ft 02 in (4.32 m x 4.93 m)   « Less

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, circa 1900 - The Antique Sultanabad carpets of Persia are highly sought after for their grand, exuberant treatment of classical Persian floral  More »

Antique Sultanabad, Persia, circa 1900 - The Antique Sultanabad carpets of Persia are highly sought after for their grand, exuberant treatment of classical Persian floral designs, as well as for their rich, varied color. This one, however, is in a class by itself. The field consists only of an open natural camel ground devoid of pattern. Indeed the camel ground extends virtually across the entire carpet, with the color and pattern both restricted to the vinescroll palmette main border with its soft palette of pale reds, blues, and ivory. Minor borders in soft red and blue help frame the field, along with two others in a slightly paler shade of camel. The simplicity of the design enables us to concentrate on the exquisite delicacy of the color and the luminous softness of the wool pile. The contemporary decorative possibilities of this extraordinary carpet are limitless. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 13 ft 08 in x 16 ft 02 in (4.17 m x 4.93 m)   « Less

Antique Bakshaish Carpet, Persia, late nineteenth century Among antique Persian room-sized carpets, Bakshaishes like this appear to have the strongest ties to tribal or  More »

Antique Bakshaish Carpet, Persia, late nineteenth century Among antique Persian room-sized carpets, Bakshaishes like this appear to have the strongest ties to tribal or village rug weaving, but seldom to they draw upon these traditions with such style and flair. Here the great central stepped medallion and its highly stylized interior floral detail have all the most exciting qualities of tribal rugs, as does the ivory ground vinescroll border. But the Caucasian or Lenkoran ‘turtle’ medallions in the sea blue field show above all how deep the village rug tradition runs in this magnificent carpet. The color sensibility here is also superb, vying with the best Kazak or Kurdish rugs. Style: Bakshaish Origin: Persia Size: 13 ft 01 in x 16 ft 03 in (3.99 m x 4.95 m)   « Less

Antique Agra, India, early twentieth centuryA lavish medallion sits within a field of writhing vines and flowers surrounded by spandrels in the four corners. Despite the  More »

Antique Agra, India, early twentieth centuryA lavish medallion sits within a field of writhing vines and flowers surrounded by spandrels in the four corners. Despite the complexity and density of the design, the effect is smoothly decorative and tranquil because of the delicate tone-on-tone coloration. This effect carries over into the border system where the elaborate designs are once again mollified by the soft coloration that unite the whole carpet in a visually pleasing, harmonious whole. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 11 ft 09 in x 16 ft 03 in (3.58 m x 4.95 m)   « Less