An Isphahan carpet, Central Persia

reduced in length, rewoven end

Washington, D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art, Carpets for the Great Shah, October 3 - November 16, 1948

The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Illustrated Handbook of The W. A. Clark Collection, The Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, D.C.: W. F. Roberts Company, 1928, p. 77 
"Carpets for the Great Shah: The Near-Eastern Carpets from the W. A. Clark Collection," The Corcoran Gallery of Art Bulletin, Washington, D.C., Vol. 2, No. 1, October 1948, p. 13

Pile ranges from 1/10in. to low to knotheads and foundation. Upper border rewoven. Both lower corners rewoven. These rewoven areas have faded to a lighter color as visible in catalogue illustration. Repairs generally well executed. A 1-1/2 ft. by 1/2 in. rewoven repaired slit next to a 1ft. by 1in. T-shaped reweave on the left side of field. Scattered repiled ivories in oxidized areas. Missing outer guard stripes, overcast on all four sides with overcasting detached in areas. Supple handle, sound fabric, good color and elegant design and drawing. Please note that a license may be required to export textiles, rugs and carpets of Iranian origin from the United States. Clients should enquire with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding export requirements. Please check with the Carpet department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to this restriction or if you need assistance.
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.

This carpet has an unusual inner guard border of linked cartouches enclosing rosettes and arabesques that appears on two other well known Safavid carpets; the silk foundation Isphahan carpet sold Christie's London, April 16, 2007, lot 100 and the Enzenberg spiral-vine carpet in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, see Friedrich Spuhler, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: Carpets and Textiles, London, 1998, pl. 20, pp. 100-103.

Please note that a license may be required to export textiles, rugs and carpets of Iranian origin from the United States. Clients should enquire with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding export requirements. Please check with the Carpet department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to this restriction or if you need assistance.