Rug Rag Notes:

silk Fereghan rugs are very difficult to come by.  Although they are out there, most have been hoarded away in private collections.  I've seen just a handful in person, all of which have featured the polychrome silk warp fringes similar to "Rainbow Senneh's".   One of the most recent Silk Fereghan's which sold was lot 158 of Sotheby's sale N08503 for $50,000, November 25, 2008.  See more images at the bottom of this post!

Lot 1 Description

A SILK FEREGHAN PRAYER RUG
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
A couple of light spot stains, otherwise very good condition
7ft. x 4ft.5in. (213cm. x 135cm.)

Estimate:

$8,190 - $11,466

Rug Rag Notes: 

Mohtashem Kashan's are rare and unique.  Especially in silk, and especially when the original colors show true.  It's not uncommon to find many of these rugs to have significantly lighter colors on the front as opposed to the back.  They're almost always recognizable as having a looser handle, and having silk selvages if original.

Lot 6 Description

A SILK KASHAN 'MOHTASHAM' RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
Corroded grey, three minute repairs,
selvages partly rebound
6ft.9in. x 4ft.4in. (206cm. x 132cm.) 

Estimate:

$5,733 - $8,190

Rug Rag Notes: 

The colors of this rug drove me wild!  Among the more highly sought after antique Oriental Rugs, you want to see timeless colors and motif.  This rug features beautiful, bright tones with excellent contrast and overall long lasting appeal.  A beautiful carpet which is very conducive to today's market in size, colors, and design.

Lot 8 Description

A SILK kashan carpet
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
Localised areas of wear, corroded purple and blue, some repairs and splits, slightly dry, selvages overbound, slight loss at each end
11ft.4in. x 7ft.9in. (344cm. x 236cm.)

Estimate:

$9,828 - $13,104

Rug Rag Notes:  

This is a bit more of an unusual design to see in an antique kerman.  Kerman's of this vintage are not known to have this highly angular repeating motif, nor are they known to have such dark field and border.  A very interesting piece in regards to being somewhat of a tangential example, while still maintaining somewhat of a milfleur Kerman design.

Lot 12 Description

A KIRMAN CARPET
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
Slight wear at one end, added fringes, otherwise very good condition
15ft.2in. x 10ft.6in. (461cm. x 320cm.)

Estimate:

$3,276 - $4,914

Rug Rag Notes:  

Completely reminds us of the twin Saber Mashad's which Dr. Sobhe has in his gallery.  If you take a close look at the bottom photograph as compared to the rugs Sobhe has, you can see similarities in color tones, design execution, and above all, the selvages and kilim.

Lot 15 Description

AN AMOGHLI MESHED CARPET
NORTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1940
signed "A W Amoghli 110" in the cartouche at the top, minute touches of moth damage, otherwise excellent condition
13ft.8in. x 9ft.8in. (416cm. x 294cm.)

Estimate:

$14,742 - $19,656

Rug Rag Notes: 

This was a really charming looking rug.  With an example such as this, it's always interesting to see how the weavers stylize the alternating Guls differently.  Rug's aren't perfect, and that's the way we like it!

Lot 27 Description

A KAZAK RUG
SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1840
Very slight wear, repair and repiling, otherwise good condition
8ft.5in. x 6ft.4in. (256cm. x 193cm.)

Estimate:

$22,932 - $29,484

Rug Rag Notes: 

Really nice example with excellent colors, beautiful mallard green and indigo blue.  Color tones appear very consistent and even.  Overall a very attractive piece, and certainly a catch for any collector or connoisseur.

Lot 32 Description

A LORI PAMBAK RUG
SOUTH CAUCASUS, CIRCA 1880
Full pile, scattered repairs
7ft.8in. x 6ft. (234cm. x 183cm.)

Estimate:

$24,570 - $32,760

Rug Rag Notes:

This rug features the repeating gul ferang design, which is said to be an interpretation of a rose.  It reminds us a lot of one of the rugs we featured in our distinguished rug collection, although this example offered by Christies London is significantly older.

Lot 36 Description

A BIJAR CARPET
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Localised light wear, repairs and slight damage at one end
17ft. x 12ft.5in. (518cm. x 379cm.)

Estimate:

$13,104 - $19,656

Rug Rag Notes:

Wow!  Despite the noted conditional issues, this rug has a lot of very, very interesting features.  Mohtashem Kashan, with Safavid Fragment border, and almost a Joshegan framing of the field.  It's interesting how powerful this piece comes across despite the lighter colors.  Especially for this type of a weaving. Mohtashem Kashans don't come cheap, however this is at the lower end of the price range. One of these made it to our Top Ten Prices of 2008 last year.

Lot 41 Description

A KASHAN 'MOHTASHAM' CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Overall wear, some tears at one end, a very few very small repairs
13ft.8in. x 9ft.8in. (416cm. x 294cm.)

Estimate:

$9,828 - $13,104

Rug Rag Notes:

We've always been particularly fond of the Mina Khani design, and this is a great example.

Lot 42 Description

A VERAMIN CARPET
NORTH PERSIA, CIRCA 1920
Minimal spots of wear, overall very good condition
12ft.1in. x 8ft.9in. (368cm. x 266cm.)

Estimate:

$4,914 - $8,190

Rug Rag Notes: 

Tehran rug's aren't incredibly rare, but it's always a treat to see them come to market as they do appear in less frequency.  

This particular piece appears to have unbelievable tone-on-tone in the border and center medallion.  Very strong and bold design, with intriguing use of color in both medallion and field. Quite something to look at.

Lot 43 Description

A PART-SILK TEHRAN RUG
NORTH PERSIA, CIRCA 1920
Localised slight wear, corroded silk, border repair
6ft.8in. x 4ft.7in. (204cm. x 140cm.)

Estimate:

$6,552 - $9,828

Rug Rag Notes:

Some of the more intricate pictoral rugs seem to be Antique Kirmans. The reason this one stood out to us is the condition seems to be fairly good and that often sets the precedent for the market if it were to sell.

Lot 51 Description

A KIRMAN MASHA'IR PICTORIAL RUG
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
Depicting famous historical world figures, differential corrosion and minimal wear, otherwise very good condition
8ft.3in. x 4ft.5in. (251cm. x 135cm.)

Estimate:

$16,380 - $24,570

Rug Rag Notes:

As you all know silk Heriz rugs are among our favorite. They seemingly always sell, often exceeding what estimates were noted. See more photographs of a silk Heriz structure.

Lot 72 Description

A SILK HERIZ PRAYER RUG
NORTH WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Minimal wear, slightly frayed selvages, otherwise very good condition
5ft.10in. x 4ft.6in. (178cm. x 137cm.)

Estimate:

$9,828 - $13,104

Rug Rag Notes:

The colors of this rug are absolutely unreal. Ordinarily this type of rug will feature 7 to 9 different panels, although more and less do exist, it is almost exclusively in odd numbers.

Lot 84 Description

A KIRSEHIR SAF
CENTRAL ANATOLIA, CIRCA 1870
Areas of wear, some repiling, replaced selvages and ends
3ft.9in. x 13ft.1in. (114cm. x 399cm.)

Estimate:

$8,190 - $11,466

Rug Rag Notes:

These old Turkish rugs are always entertaining to see what they sell for. A similar vintage and similar color rug was sold at Sotheby's last year and we believe the hammer price was in the vicinity of $30,000-$50,000.

Lot 87 Description

A  CARPET
WEST ANATOLIA, LATE 17TH OR FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY
Some wear, heavily corroded brown, minimal repair, ends tucked under, overall good condition
23ft. x 12ft.8in. (701cm. x 387cm.)

Estimate:

$32,860 - $49,290

Rug Rag Notes:

It seems pretty typical of Sultanabad rugs to have muted or analogous colors. What we liked about this particular example is the contrast and wide color variety. It is always nice seeing rugs that have different scaling on the borders. We also like the larger scale turtle design in the border as well.

Lot 127 Description

A SULTANABAD CARPET
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Some areas of light wear and corrosion, minimal repiling, otherwise good condition
14ft.11in. x 11ft.8in. (455cm. x 354cm.)

Estimate:

$8,215 - $11,501

Rug Rag Notes:

This is one of my great-great grandfathers antique Kirman rugs. Seems like it might be in pretty good condition and it has a nice design.

Lot 152 Description

A KIRMAN PRAYER RUG
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Commissioning inscription "Sefaresh Dilmaqani 92 (commissioned for Dilmaqani no.92)", areas of very light wear, minute repairs in three corners, replaced selvages, slight loss at each end
7ft.1in. x 4ft.6in. (215cm. x 137cm.)

Estimate:

$4,929 - $7,394

Rug Rag Notes:

This rug is a little bit more unusual for a Kirman. The ribbon type of continuous line in the main border isn't seen very often. The bottom corners are very characteristic of a Kirman of this vintage in that the corner borders are well reconciled. Alternatively on the top, in the upper right and left corners they clearly didn't follow through with the design.

Lot 155 Description

A KIRMAN RUG
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1870
Overall minimal wear and corrosion, a few small repairs, slight loss at one end, selvages overbound and frayed
5ft.10in. x 4ft.6in. (178cm. x 137cm.)

Estimate:

$3,286 - $4,929

Rug Rag Notes:

We thought this was a really powerful looking rug, very strong and bold color, especially the medallion design and contrast throughout. The strength of this design reminds us alot of a Mohtasham Kashan we've featured awhile back.

Lot 173 Description

A LARGE FEREGHAN CARPET
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1890
Very slight localised wear, a few small areas of moth damage, repiling and repair, slight staining and colour-run
20ft.7in. x 12ft.2in. (626cm. x 370cm.)

Estimate:

$16,430 - $24,645

Rug Rag Notes:

This piece stuck out to us due to the half and half design. The top portion is clearly what would be a typical prayer rug design, however the bottom portion takes on a completely different turn. It's kind of like having two rugs in one, not unlike a triclinium carpet.

Lot 175 Description

A KASHAN 'MOHTASHAM' RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1890
Scattered light wear, minimal moth damage and staining, slight repair, small stains
6ft.7in x 4ft.1in. (200cm. x 125cm.)

Estimate:

$4,929 - $8,215

Rug Rag Notes:

It is very rare to have a Fereghan rug that has been signed. The ivory field Fereghan's tend to attract a tremendous amount of market appeal. This particular design is definitely more unique.

Lot 179 Description

A FEREGHAN RUG
WEST PERSIA, DATED AH 1318/1899-1900 AD
The inscription cartouche reads: "Commissioned by Sayf al-Dawla 1318", areas of very light wear and corrosion, slight colour-run, selvages partly rebound
6ft.4in. x 4ft.3in. (193cm. x 130cm.)

Estimate:

$4,929 - $6,572

Rug Rag Notes:

We love the polychrome warp sennehs. We aren't sure if the pile on this piece is silk, although it appears to be a very beautiful rug, and certainly will catch a premium in very good condition.

Lot 192 Description

A SILK SENNEH RUG
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
Minimal corrosion and colour-run, otherwise very good condition
6ft.9in. x 4ft.5in. (206cm. x 135cm.)

Estimate:

$13,144 - $19,716

Rug Rag Notes:

This is one of the first rugs I've seen described as a silk Bijar. In all honesty just from looking at the photographs I would have thought it was a Tabriz. Going by the colors, the design motif and even the outlining fringes and selvage, I definitely would have pinpointed it at mid 19th century. 

Lot 194 Description

A SILK BIJAR RUG
WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1860
Minimal repair to selvages, otherwise very good condition throughout
6ft.3in. x 4ft.6in. (191cm. x 137cm.)

Estimate:

$24,645 - $32,860

Rug Rag Notes:

Pretty large silk Tabriz rug. Nice to see the inscription and it's incredible how timeless some of these designs are. This style of William Morris type of lattice field is still very much in demand.

Lot 200 Description

A SILK TABRIZ CARPET
NORTH WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1890
The inscription cartouche reads: "farmayesh-e (commissioned by) Tutunchi", localised spots of light wear and corrosion, small areas of repiling in field, selvages rebound, ends missing knots but secured
15ft.3in. x 10ft. (464cm. x 305cm.)

Estimate:

$65,720 - $98,580