A Safavid small 'Vase' Carpet, Southeast Persia

By repute, purchased in Cairo sometime between 1912 and 1956, by the present owner's grandfather
Thence by descent

 

Pile variable with some corrosion, areas of wear to knotbars and pile ranging from 1 -3 mm; crimson ground partially corroded with some loose exposed warps in central register in field and scattered warps visible elsewhere, ample pile for design to read clearly however; dark walnut browns near fully oxidised, light walnut brown and olive-grey green partially oxidised, other colours generally in good condition; wear along outer edges with some losses and fraying to side cord wrapping, particularly down right hand edge; old moth damage, mainly in white outer guard stripes, with some minor areas within border; small, old reweave in field, irregularly shaped approximately 5 by 2.5cm in blue palmette in lower register, to left of centre; 2 smaller, 5 x 1 cm reweaves in lower left side of major border; very slight losses to corners; overall in good condition for age. Needs a thorough clean. Please note that there may be restrictions on importing certain types of property of Persian/Iranian origin into the United States. Clients should enquire with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding the proper importation of items subject to such restrictions. Due to recent changes in U.S. law, carpets and rugs of Iranian/Persian origin may no longer be imported into the U.S. Please check with the Middle Eastern department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to these or any other restrictions or if you need assistance with such enquiries.
"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 two-plane lattice design here formed by blue and yellow split-leaf arabesque vinery and punctuated by palmettes is unusual in `vase' carpets and a clear precursor to the 19<sup>th</sup> century so-called `Gerrus design weavings, named for the region near Bidjar of their origin. A superb example of a later carpet with this pattern is the large, signed and dated 1209/1794, carpet from the McMullan collection now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see Joseph V. McMullan, Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, pl.22. Also in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a large `vase' carpet with an arabesque an animal design, where the arabesques form more of a strapwork than than in the carpet offered here, however both similarly employ large palmettes between the arabesques and along the central axis, see M.S. Dimand and Jean Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1973, fig. 119, cat. no. 47. This latter Metropolitan Museum carpet was included in the 1976 exhibition Carpets of Central Persia, as one of twelve arabesque-design pieces woven in the `vase' technique; see Mary H. Beattie, Carpets of Central Persia, Sheffield and Birmingham: World of Islam Publishing, 1976, no.s. 23-32, 71 and 72. Of these carpets featuring the arabesque design, the form, rhythm and drawing of the design elements in the present lot are most similar to those on a carpet formerly in the Acheroff collection and now in the Louvre Museum, Paris, see Beattie, ibid. no. 27. Also related to the present lot is a `vase' technique fragmentary carpet in the Keir collection, having an overall arabesque-formed lattice design, which the author notes as "very rare", see Friedrich Spuhler, Islamic Carpets and Textiles in the Keir Collection, London, 1978, no. 50, pp. 96 and 101.

In the border here, cypress trees alternate with flowering shrubs, and this pattern is found in other `vase' carpets, most often those with a field design of a single-plane floral trellis, such as lot 467 in this catalogue. Other related examples are in the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. and the Burrell Collection, Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum; see Beattie, op.cit., nos. 56 and 57. This border also appeared on a `vase' carpet with a different single-plane lattice pattern that was sold Sotheby's New York, 15 April 1993, lot 83, and previously sold Collection of V. & L. Benguiat, American Art Association, New York, December 4-5, 1925, lot 42. The drawing and spacing of the plants and trees in the lot offered is less stiff and crowded than in the cited examples and recalls the shrubs in the field design on the Lady Dudley `vase' carpet, sold Sotheby's, London, 11 October 1990, lot 706.

The floral guard borders on this carpet are shared with numerous `vase' design carpets including the Lady Dudley carpet and the inner border of the Comtesse de Behague `vase' carpet sold last year at Christie's, London, 15 April 2010, lot 100. These two `vase' carpets and the lot offered here also share an exquisite use of luminous colour and intricate design that exemplify the true sophistication of Persian weaving.