Antique Khotan Oriental Rug, late nineteenth century - This lovely antique Khotan rug is remarkable for its clever restraint. With its empty field, attention focuses in the  More »

Antique Khotan Oriental Rug, late nineteenth century - This lovely antique Khotan rug is remarkable for its clever restraint. With its empty field, attention focuses in the arabesque cartouche borders derived from classical Persian carpets to the west. But the wonderful palette of warm terracottas complemented by soft blues and greens in luxurious velvety pile is the true glory of the rug. The small checkerboard elements set within the sinuous curves of the border add a novel and unexpected effect. Style: Khotan Origin: East Turkestan Size: 12 ft 10 in x 16 ft 04 in (3.91 m x 4.98 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz, Persia, circa 1900 - Tabriz carpets like this represent one of the oldest continuous weaving traditions In Persia. The suavely elegant design of vines  More »

Antique Tabriz, Persia, circa 1900 - Tabriz carpets like this represent one of the oldest continuous weaving traditions In Persia. The suavely elegant design of vines and palmettes on this piece draws closely upon the so-called Kerman ‘vase carpets’ of the seventeenth century, although using a softer, more decorative palette more suitable to contemporary usage. The lush palmette vinescroll is particularly well rendered here, and its blue ground provides the perfect framing effect for the field. The exceptional quality of the design is nicely accented here by the excellent wool of the pile and the clarity of the colors. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 14 ft 05 in x 16 ft 04 in (4.39 m x 4.98 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz from Northwest Persia, late nineteenth centuryThis exquisite antique Tabriz recalls the great classical Persian carpets designed for the Shahs and their  More »

Antique Tabriz from Northwest Persia, late nineteenth centuryThis exquisite antique Tabriz recalls the great classical Persian carpets designed for the Shahs and their courts. It is not easy to achieve the serene balance between opulent detail and reserved elegance that this carpet displays. The central medallions and the cornerpieces of the field are rich with intricate arabesque ornament that plays off wonderfully against the tranquil ivory ground, Rows of botehs or paisley surround the whole field like a penetrable frame, defying our notions of space and limitation, and making a gentle transition to the finely detailed borders that actually enclose the field. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 09 in x 16 ft 05 in (3.58 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Ziegler Mahal/ Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryOne may well marvel at the exquisite rendering of the many-petaled blossoms in the field of this grand  More »

Antique Ziegler Mahal/ Sultanabad, Persia, late nineteenth centuryOne may well marvel at the exquisite rendering of the many-petaled blossoms in the field of this grand antique Sultanabad. Each flower is attached to energetic vines that gently twist and curve throughout the design. The border and corners provide excellent contrast with the pale open field. A very narrow outside border, totally devoid of decoration, provides a measure of repose and quiet transition at the edges of the carpet. On an ivory field are colors of pale terracotta, brick, khaki, camel, sand, cinnamon, teal, and black, with a border and corner panels rendered in soft terracotta. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 11 ft 10 in x 16 ft 05 in (3.61 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Savonnerie, France, nineteenth centuryAn elegant open medallion design graces the field of this elegantly restrained antique French Savonnerie carpet. The inner  More »

Antique Savonnerie, France, nineteenth centuryAn elegant open medallion design graces the field of this elegantly restrained antique French Savonnerie carpet. The inner central medallion is a life-like cluster of roses hovering within an open oval field of soft ivory with a hint of blush. The oval field is framed by an array of flowering branches emitted by cornucopiae, again against the same ivory ground. A narrow spiral garland rendered with tromp-l’oueil naturalism frames the entire composition. The lustrous glow of the wool pile sets off the delicate drawing and pastel coloration to great effect. Style: Savonnerie Origin: Spain Size: 13 ft 06 in x 16 ft 05 in (4.11 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Amritsar, India, circa 1900 Style: Amritsar Origin: India Size: 13 ft 03 in x 16 ft 05 in (4.04 m x 5.00 m)

Antique Amritsar, India, circa 1900 Style: Amritsar Origin: India Size: 13 ft 03 in x 16 ft 05 in (4.04 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Agra, India, circa 1910 - The field of this sumptuous antique Agra continues the great tradition of hunting carpets from Mughal India and Safavid Persia. Midway  More »

Antique Agra, India, circa 1910 - The field of this sumptuous antique Agra continues the great tradition of hunting carpets from Mughal India and Safavid Persia. Midway between pictorial and ornamental design, the sandy gold field depicts elegant horseman with bows chasing animals amidst delicate sprays of flowers evoking the natural world. The white or ivory areas are woven in silk. The elegant blue-ground border is similarly inhabited as panthers pounce on deer between delicately drawn palmettes and cartouches, which in turn contain men and angels. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 12 ft 05 in x 16 ft 05 in (3.78 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Oushak / Ushak, Turkey, late 19th Century Large palmettes, leaves, and vines adapted from a Herati pattern sweep dynamically across the grayish-blue field of this  More »

Antique Oushak / Ushak, Turkey, late 19th Century Large palmettes, leaves, and vines adapted from a Herati pattern sweep dynamically across the grayish-blue field of this stunning antique Oushak. The cool tone of the field provides an excellent backdrop for the varied apricot, red, and yellow tones of the floral elements. The rich terracotta ground palmette border adds the perfect framing effect, picking up on the terracotta palmettes of the field while contrasting the cool gray-blue ground. Style: Oushak / Ushak Origin: Turkey Size: 12 ft 08 in x 16 ft 06 in (3.86 m x 5.03 m)   « Less

Antique Indian, late nineteenth centuryThe late nineteenth century witnessed an extensive revival of rug weaving in Northern India that brought to life once again the great  More »

Antique Indian, late nineteenth centuryThe late nineteenth century witnessed an extensive revival of rug weaving in Northern India that brought to life once again the great weaving traditions of the Mughal period. Although rarely have such Indian carpets managed to equal their illustrious forerunners. This magnificent example, however, is every bit the peer of the great Mughal court hunting carpets and the Safavid Persian masterpieces that inspired them. Here mounted bowmen accompanied by elephants and footmen cavort across a rich terracotta field laden with floral and animal abundance. Deer, antelope, and lions flee before their pursuers while two dragons rear in the lower corners. A lavish arabesque strapwork and cloudband border encloses the field, set against an aubergine ground that nicely contrast the terracotta ground within it. Multiple minor borders add to the fine complexity of the overall composition. Truly a carpet fit for a king. Style: Agra Origin: India Size: 13 ft 02 in x 16 ft 06 in (4.01 m x 5.03 m)   « Less

Antique Tabriz, Persia, late nineteenth centuryWhile antique Tabriz carpets are known for their fidelity to classical Persian rug design, rarely do they approach such  More »

Antique Tabriz, Persia, late nineteenth centuryWhile antique Tabriz carpets are known for their fidelity to classical Persian rug design, rarely do they approach such forerunners as closely as this magnificent example. Here a multi-lobed circular medallion filled with arabesque detail spews spiraling vinescrolls into a rich terracotta field bounded in turn by blue-ground vinescroll cornerpieces. The running vine and palmette border is much smaller in its scale and detail, nicely contrasting the grandeur of the field. The palette of the carpet as well as its design is faithful to classical tradition, relying as it does on the harmonious interplay of rich reds, soft greens and blues, and tan or ivory. Style: Tabriz Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 05 in x 16 ft 06 in (3.18 m x 5.03 m)   « Less