Antique Serab Runner, Persia, late nineteenth century - A network of ogival compartments defined by beaded vines unfolds with consummate grace across the soft salmon field  More »

Antique Serab Runner, Persia, late nineteenth century - A network of ogival compartments defined by beaded vines unfolds with consummate grace across the soft salmon field of this lovely antique Serab. Abstract floral sprays fill t he various compartments of the field, while similar designs on a smaller scale comprise the main border in a box format. A minor vinescroll border makes a nice transition back to the undulating rhythms of the field. Style: Serab Origin: Persia Size: 3. ft 06 in x 15 ft 09 in (1.07 m x 4.80 m)   « Less

Antique Serab, Persia, early twentieth centuryHexagonal medallions with finials float within a patterned field on this richly detailed antique Serab. Surrounding cornerpieces  More »

Antique Serab, Persia, early twentieth centuryHexagonal medallions with finials float within a patterned field on this richly detailed antique Serab. Surrounding cornerpieces and half medallions enclose the medallions, echoing their coloration and interior detail. The ground, patterned with a tone-on-tone honeycomb design, still functions essentially as a textured open field against the more richly colored medallions and cornerpieces. Narrow borders frame the entire composition, again echoing the color scheme and design elements of the medallions. Style: Serab Origin: Persia Size: 5. ft 07 in x 16 ft 03 in (1.70 m x 4.95 m)   « Less

Northwest Persian Carpet, 18th century - this exciting and unusual antique Northwest Persian long carpet translates the design of small village rugs to a monumental,  More »

Northwest Persian Carpet, 18th century - this exciting and unusual antique Northwest Persian long carpet translates the design of small village rugs to a monumental, room-size format. The zig-zag lattice with its fill of floral sprays, as well as the rosette vinescroll border are reminiscent of smaller Caucasian and Kurdish rugs, as is the rich, saturated coloration. But here these features are allowed to sweep majestically before the viewer on a large scale. The overall effect is heightened especially by the dark ground border that contrasts so dramatically with the lovely saffron-tan field. Style: North West Origin: Persia Size: 6. ft 07 in x 16 ft 05 in (2.01 m x 5.00 m)   « Less

Antique Northwest Persian, late nineteenth centuryThe term ‘Northwest’ is used to designate a distinctive group of antique Persian rugs and carpets produced in  More »

Antique Northwest Persian, late nineteenth centuryThe term ‘Northwest’ is used to designate a distinctive group of antique Persian rugs and carpets produced in the Trans-Caucasus region, but whose precise origin remains unknown. True to form, this magnificent example seems closely related to the Bidjar, Serapi, and Bakshaish carpets of Northwest Persia, but nonetheless it stands apart. Here a grand indented diamond medallion in ivory and black floats within a lush complex Mina Khani or trellis design of multi-colored vines and palmettes, all set against a dramatic black ground. A vinescroll border on a red ground offers the perfect framing effect. The unusually varied and rich coloration suggests ties with Kurdish weaving as well. Style: North West Origin: Persia Size: 7. ft 01 in x 16 ft 08 in (2.16 m x 5.08 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh rugs like this lavish example are sometimes more inspired by Persian rug designs from further south than by local Caucasian tradition. Here the field design  More »

Antique Karabagh rugs like this lavish example are sometimes more inspired by Persian rug designs from further south than by local Caucasian tradition. Here the field design is the classic Persian Herati, an allover pattern of intersecting vines and curved ‘sickle’ palmettes rendered in terracotta, saffron, and ivory against a dark ground that barely show through. A diminutive square central medallion with interior ‘Boteh’ or paisley motifs floats above the rich Herati detail. The main border has a serrated vinescroll design with large rosette flowers, all set against saffron for contrast with the field. Minor vinescroll borders supply an additional framing touch. Style: Karabagh Origin: Caucasus Size: 7. ft 02 in x 17 ft (2.18 m x 5.18 m)   « Less

Antique Heriz Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth centuryThis monumentally graphic antique Persian Serapi has the charm of a great village rug writ large. Serapi carpets, the  More »

Antique Heriz Serapi, Persia, late nineteenth centuryThis monumentally graphic antique Persian Serapi has the charm of a great village rug writ large. Serapi carpets, the very finest grade of Heriz, are eagerly sought after for the animated spontaneity of their drawing and beauty of their palette, and this one has the best of both. The grand medallion is set against a delicate apricot field enclosed by sky blue cornerpieces, with a minimum of stylized vines floating in the intervening space. The vines recur in the main border, again set against an apricot ground, echoing field. Rarely does one carpet combine so well the robust excitement of village weaving with impressive formality of room-sized rugs. Style: Bakshaish Origin: Persia Size: 9. ft 07 in x 17 ft 09 in (2.92 m x 5.41 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryAmong the many rug types produced in the Caucasus region during the nineteenth century, Karabaghs like this sometimes  More »

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryAmong the many rug types produced in the Caucasus region during the nineteenth century, Karabaghs like this sometimes relate more to closely to Persian village rug traditions from further south. In the field the lively design of stepped medallions with finials surrounded by a mesh of angular vinescrolls recalls Bidjar carpets or the nomadic rugs of the Zagros Mountain region. The stepped cornerpieces that articulate the field as a long hexagonal shape repeat its details, but on a lighter, contrasting ground. The interlacing ‘turtle’ vinescroll border is also classic Persian, and they way it echoes the coloration and interior detail of the medallions is particularly effective, bringing home the overall unity of design that makes this such a lovely piece. Style: Karabagh Origin: Caucasus Size: 6. ft 07 in x 18 ft (2.01 m x 5.49 m)   « Less

Antique Khotan Carpet, East Turkestan, circa 1900 Rows of lobed Turkoman medallions or 'guls' repeat in symmetry across the soft tan field of this lovely antique Khotan. The  More »

Antique Khotan Carpet, East Turkestan, circa 1900 Rows of lobed Turkoman medallions or 'guls' repeat in symmetry across the soft tan field of this lovely antique Khotan. The intervening space has cruciform 'minor guls' of Turkoman type as well.. The various vinescroll and geometric borders are of local Khotan type, as is the delicate neutral coloration, which makes this a superior decorative carpet. Style: Khotan Origin: East Turkestan Size: 9. ft 05 in x 18 ft 07 in (2.87 m x 5.66 m)   « Less

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryAmong the multiplicity of rug types produced in the Caucasus in the nineteenth century, Karabaghs like this are the ones  More »

Antique Karabagh, Caucasus, late nineteenth centuryAmong the multiplicity of rug types produced in the Caucasus in the nineteenth century, Karabaghs like this are the ones that come closest to Persian village rug traditions to the south. Here small, elaborately stylized palmettes of several types are arranged in staggered repetition down the length of the field. The borders are narrow with the main one echoing the field color and the flanking minor borders setting it off in contrast. Despite the Persian aspect of the design, he palette of light green, and terracotta shades set dramatically against black ground is distinctively Karabagh. Style: Karabagh Origin: Caucasus Size: 6. ft 06 in x 19 ft (1.98 m x 5.79 m)   « Less

Antique Sultanabad rug, Persia, late 19th Century Large-scale, geometric drawing adds interest to this antique Sultanabad’s floral design. Red arabesques outlined in  More »

Antique Sultanabad rug, Persia, late 19th Century Large-scale, geometric drawing adds interest to this antique Sultanabad’s floral design. Red arabesques outlined in contrasting ivory cut across a navy field filled with large floral forms, angular leaves, and vines. The yellow “turtle” border is rendered in much smaller scale, its delicacy providing contrast to the boldness of the field. Style: Sultanabad Origin: Persia Size: 12 ft 01 in x 20 ft 01 in (3.68 m x 6.12 m)   « Less