A Kurdish long rug, East Anatolia,

Pile ranges from approximately 1/6 of an inch, most in yellow border, purples and blues, to low to knotheads in oxidized areas. Oxidized dark browns throughout, most with later lighter repiling. Scattered foldwear, some with exposed spot foundation. Further scattered repiling to yellow border, and some minor repiling to other colors. Scattered reweaves, with the largest being an approximately 7 inches by 5 inches irregularly shaped reweave at lower end. Another approximately 7 inch by 1 1/2 inch reweave at center of field. Further smaller reweaves throughout, most visible on reverse. Rewoven lower end guard stripe, now with later flatwoven finish and fringes. Upper end secured with blanket stitch with hooks and cotton sleeve sewn on reverse at top. Rewoven side guard stripes and parts of guard borders. Sides reselvaged with two-cord wool selvaging. Very supple handle, archaic design, unusual colors, restored, sound fabric.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The lustrous wool, saturated color and supple blanket-like handle of this rug are hallmarks of Kurdish weaving.  The design of rows of multi-colored stylized palmettes alternating with rosettes is similar to that of an East Anatolian rug exhibited during the Milan ICOC and illustrated in Eduardo Concaro and Alberto Levi, Sovrani Tappeti, Milan, 1999, pl. 49, p. 70 and its very close cousin in Peter Bausback, Antike Orientteppiche, Braunschweig, 1978, pp. 80-81.  The two sited rugs have a golden yellow ground while the deep brown field of the present rug serves as a stronger background that heightens the vivid coloring of the design.  The shape and drawing of the palmettes in this rug are shared with an Azerbaijan rug in the Kirchheim collection which, in acknowledgment of their derivation from earlier Persian carpets, he calls "palmettes in the Esfahan manner," see Heinrich Kirchheim, et al., Orient Stars, London and Stuttgart, 1993, pl. 75, p. 141.  The deep brown field, yellow border and variety of color as well as the loose character of the drawing in the present rug are shared with an Azerbaijan rug illustrated in Georg Butterweck, et al, Antique Rugs from Austrian Collections, Vienna, 1986, pl. 18.  There has been repiling to the brown in the ground of this rug where another Kurdish rug in the collection of James Burns, with 'flaming' palmettes in colors similar to this carpet, remains on a now very corroded brown ground , see James D. Burns, Antique Rugs of Kurdistan, Seattle, 2002, pl. 47, pp. 156-157.