Antique Bakhtiari rug, Persia, late 19th Century The best of the dyer’s and weaver’s art comes together in this antique Bakhtiari rug. An overall design of  More »

Antique Bakhtiari rug, Persia, late 19th Century The best of the dyer’s and weaver’s art comes together in this antique Bakhtiari rug. An overall design of green star medallions covers a yellow abrashed field. The red border with its large-scale, stylized, floral motifs compliments the field. Classical design reinterpreted with a nomadic sensibility—the result is truly beautiful. Style: Bakhtiari Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft 06 in x 23 ft (3.81 m x 7.01 m)   « Less

Antique Bidjar Persian Wagireh Rug, late nineteenth century - On this antique Bijar pattern sampler or Wagireh much of the rug is dominated by the central medallion rendered  More »

Antique Bidjar Persian Wagireh Rug, late nineteenth century - On this antique Bijar pattern sampler or Wagireh much of the rug is dominated by the central medallion rendered in abbreviated form. Beneath it a network of Herati filler motifs for the field and a medallion finial, as well as sections of the main and minor borders set down horizontally and vertically on the left and right edges. Here the asymmetry of the arrangement is full or surprises and excitement, as is the impressionistic drawing. The warm palette of deep burn orange, saffron, soft blue is set dramatically against a blue-black ground. Size: 1. ft 10 in x 2. ft 02 in (0.56 m x 0.66 m)   « Less

Antique Bidjar, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA classic Persian Herati design unfolds with flawless precision in the field of this outstanding antique Bidjar. The design is  More »

Antique Bidjar, Persia, late nineteenth centuryA classic Persian Herati design unfolds with flawless precision in the field of this outstanding antique Bidjar. The design is carefully constructed so that it subtly suggests an underlying diamond matrix with internal quatrefoils. The rich palette of reds and golds is nicely counterpointed by the blue-black ground. In the borders this coloration has a softer effect without the dark grounding, thereby producing a nice framing contrast for the field, while preserving a uniform, decorative design texture. Style: Bidjar / Bijar Origin: Persia Size: 7. ft 09 in x 21 ft 05 in (2.36 m x 6.53 m)   « Less

Antique Kurdish Bag, Northwest Persia, circa 1880 The field of this lovely little antique Kurdish bag is diminutive, consisting of one stylized blossom that is an excerpt of  More »

Antique Kurdish Bag, Northwest Persia, circa 1880 The field of this lovely little antique Kurdish bag is diminutive, consisting of one stylized blossom that is an excerpt of a larger allover Kurdish design. Pride of place is given to the lovely border of stylized flowerheads, derived from Turkish Ghiordes carpets. This piece offers an interesting example of the ties between Kurdish weaving in Persia and Anatolia or Turkey. The colors are rich and saturated with the vibrant reds, greens, blues and oranges for which Kurdish rugs are prized. These colors recur in the beautiful kilim end with its interlocking stepped pattern, nicely counterpointing the patterns of the field. Style: Kurdish Origin: Persia Size: 1. ft 08 in x 2. ft 02 in (0.51 m x 0.66 m)   « Less

Produced by the Qashqai and Turkic-speaking tribes who inhabited southwest Persia, this kilim is an excellent example of diagonal lozenges and polygons woven entirely with  More »

Produced by the Qashqai and Turkic-speaking tribes who inhabited southwest Persia, this kilim is an excellent example of diagonal lozenges and polygons woven entirely with right angle geometry. Using the flat-woven kilim stitch, weavers incorporate a series of steps to create diagonal lines and lozenges that intimate curves. The bright colors and stepped borders that complement the lozenge medallions complete the overall effect of this bold kilim. Style: Kilim Origin: Persia Size: 1. ft 09 in x 2. ft 08 in (0.53 m x 0.81 m)   « Less

Antique Heriz-Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth century A grand medallion design spewing palmette vinescrolls and finials virtually rules the field of this arrestingly  More »

Antique Heriz-Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth century A grand medallion design spewing palmette vinescrolls and finials virtually rules the field of this arrestingly beautiful antique Serapi. Vinescroll cornerpieces give the soft camel ground a hexagonal form, while they echo the rich palette of reds, terracotta, greens, and soft blues of the main floral elements. A vinescroll border provides a framing contrast in scale, while its dramatic blue-black ground reprises the ground color and graphic impact of the central medallion. Serapi carpets represent the finest grade of Heriz, but this magnificent example is extraordinary for its bold drawing and color, even among Serapis. Style: Heriz-Serapi Origin: Persia Size: 10 ft 10 in x 20 ft 08 in (3.30 m x 6.30 m)   « Less

Divided into four quadrants, this unique medallion carpet uses traditional guls, botehs, and reciprocating fretwork borders associated with tribal carpets produced by Kazakh  More »

Divided into four quadrants, this unique medallion carpet uses traditional guls, botehs, and reciprocating fretwork borders associated with tribal carpets produced by Kazakh tribes in the Caucasus and across the Eurasian Steppe. The Asian fretwork accents show Khotanese adaptations of preexisting styles. Style: Khotan Origin: East Turkestan Size: 3. ft x 3. ft 01 in (0.91 m x 0.94 m)   « Less

Antique Baluch Rug, Afghanistan, circa 1900A highly stylized tree of life occupies the narrow central camel-ground field on this lovely little antique Baluch bag face or  More »

Antique Baluch Rug, Afghanistan, circa 1900A highly stylized tree of life occupies the narrow central camel-ground field on this lovely little antique Baluch bag face or "Balisht." Various geometric minor borders take up the rest of the surface, all of them using deep wine tones that nicely complement the camel tones of the field. The lustrous silky pile contributes the plush tactile appeal of this lovely tribal weaving. Style: Baluch Origin: Persia Size: 1. ft 06 in x 3. ft 02 in (0.46 m x 0.97 m)   « Less

Antique Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAntique Serapi carpets like this one are famed for their bold medallion designs and striking abstract style. This magnificent  More »

Antique Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth centuryAntique Serapi carpets like this one are famed for their bold medallion designs and striking abstract style. This magnificent example, however, has a diminutive medallion and not cornerpieces, and so it functions more as a centralized allover design of jutting angular vines and palmettes. The palette consists of soft apricot, pale blues, and ivory set against a warm terracotta ground with sparing use of dark tones for accents. The richly detailed ‘turtle’ vinescroll border has a teal ground that nicely complements the palette of the field. Definitely one of the more formal and elegant examples of this type. Style: Heriz-Serapi Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft x 20 ft 06 in (3.66 m x 6.25 m)   « Less

Woven by the nomadic Baluch people who inhabited vast portions of Persia between from Azerbaijan to Pakistan, this flat-woven runner uses the tribal group’s dark  More »

Woven by the nomadic Baluch people who inhabited vast portions of Persia between from Azerbaijan to Pakistan, this flat-woven runner uses the tribal group’s dark color scheme interspersed with brilliant white weft-substitution designs and latch hook protection motifs that highlight the precision and craftsmanship in each detail. In the Baluch fashion, this utilitarian rug also includes a number of wrapped borders used to attach colorful tassels, wish tufts, and decorative accents. Style: Baluch Origin: Persia Size: 1. ft 07 in x 3. ft 04 in (0.48 m x 1.02 m)   « Less