An Important Inscribed Tabriz carpet, Northwest Persia,

together with the cartoon, partially coloured, matted and framed 

good condition overall, ends with original striped flatweave and knotted fringe, some losses to fringing itself, and minor knicks in flatweave, one rewoven section approximately 8 by 3cm. in upper end, pile good, densely woven, approximately 4-5mm in depth varying to 2-3mm in field, a couple of minute areas of localised wear to knotbars, dense flexible weave, very good quality.
"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."

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, born 23 August 1863, was one of seven children of Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich and his wife Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna (born Princess Cecile of Baden), and was the grandson of Tsar Nicholas I, and first cousin of Emperor Alexander III. Mikhailovich was raised in Georgia, where his father served as Governor General of Transcaucasia. Mikhailovich held a variety of high-ranking positions throughout his career in the Russian army. He was married to Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark on 12^th May 1900 in Corfu. The couple settled in Russia, where they had two daughters: Princess Nina, and Princess Xenia. The Grand Duke was imprisoned during the Russian Revolution, and was assassinated on 28^th January 1919.

Like his brothers, Mikhailovich was expected to pursue a military career, which began during his youth in the Caucasus, and continued in St. Petersburg, where the family had relocated. During World War I, he served as a Lieutenant General in the army, and was appointed as aide-de-camp to the commander in chief, and was further appointed by Nicholas II as supervisor of operations. In addition to his military pursuits, the Grand Duke had a great interest in the arts, and in 1895 he was appointed curator of the Alexander III Museum (now the State Russian Museum) in St. Petersburg. Mikhailovich was also fascinated with numismatics, and he not only amassed a large and impressive collection of coins and medals throughout his life, which he loaned to the Alexander III Museum until World War I, but also wrote extensively on the subject. Much of his collection is now in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

The offered carpet is assumed to have been created to commemorate the Grand Duke's 50^th birthday in 1913, and commissioned by his regiment. The inscription around the central medallion reads "To our beloved Colonel in Chief, from the 81^st Apsheronski Infantry Regiment, 1863-1913" in Russian characters. In the centre of the medallion, below a crown, are the Grand Duke's initials, and on either side of the medallion are two smaller cartouches, which bear the initials of his two daughters. The two pendant medallions display the names and dates of two famous Russian victories, the battles of "Poltova 1709" and "Geuktepe 1681." The latter is a mis-transcription, as the Battle of Goktepe actually took place in 1881.  Projecting from each of the four corners, there is the Imperial Crown with the letter "E" below it, probably for  the Empress Ekaterina II (1729-1796). In the four corners and also in the cartouches around the border appear the names of battles or campaigns in which the regiment took part, including Persia, 1723-1732, Krems (1805) and Dagestan (1877).  The Apsheron Infantry Regiment was part of the Nizovoi Corps originally formed for garrison duties in the provinces of Dagestan & Azerbaijan, which were captured by Russia from Persia in 1722. They are mentioned in Tolstoy's War and Peace in the description of the action at Krems.

The carpet itself was woven in Tabriz, in present day North West Iran.  Tabriz has been a centre famous for it's  large scale workshop weavings since the 15th century.