A Northwest Persian medallion carpet,

Mr and Mrs Reginald Toms, The Château de Coinsins, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

The Toms Collection, Oriental and European Rugs and Carpets, Volume II, Sotheby's London, 7th June 1995, lot 126

Ground is a rosy red, very pretty light blues, yellows and apricots. Pile: generally evenly worn to knot heads with extensive foundation visible throughout, minor tinting to exposed warps. Cut and reduced in length, oxidised walnuts, missing outermost minor guard stripes on all four sides, one rewoven end guard stripe, partially rewoven borders; extensive repiling and reweaves. Rewoven fold wear through enter. Reweaves are also worn with foundation visible so therefore blend quite well with original areas - not too disturbing. Sides with slight losses and later overcast. Lower end with outer guard stripe rewoven. Fabric backed. Very elegant with a magnificent border.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The composition and scale of this carpet follow in the tradition of such illustrious 16th century Northwest Persian weavings as the hunting carpet in the Poldi-Pezzoli museum, Milan,signed Ghiyath al-Din Jami and dated AH 949/1542-43  (see Thompson, Jon and Canby, S., Hunt for Paradise, New York and Milan 2003, no. 12) and the Rothschild Tabriz medallion carpet now in the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar, (Christie's London, 8th July 1999, lot 188.) 

Here, the large lobed medallion, enclosing a smaller medallion supported by split-leaf arabesques and palmettes, is more closely related to the designs of the medallion carpet in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, (see Gilles, R. et al, Le Ciel dans un Tapis, Paris and Lisbon, 2004, pl. 35) and a carpet more recently on the market, from an Italian collector, sold Christie's New York, 5th April 2001, lot 125.  These two 16th century carpets also share, with the present lot, a field devoid of spandrels and a cartouche border. 

The scale of motifs and angularity of drawing in the present lot indicate that it is a 17th century continuum of these 16th century design schemes.  Here, the boldness and stylization of the palmettes and vines create an aesthetic statement that is very different from the refined delicacy of its predecessors.  The fan-like palmettes and rendition of the cartouches in the border anticipate those carpets, woven subsequently just to the north, in the South Caucasus, that would in turn emulate a carpet such as this.  For an example of a Caucasian carpet with similar field palmettes see Ellis, C.G., Early Caucasian Rugs, Washington D.C., 1976, pl. 19.