A silk Yarkand carpet

Measurements: 209cm wide across the top, 210cm. across the bottom, 427cm long left side, 423cm long right side. Generally even pile - 2mm overall. There are areas down to the knot-bars up the right hand side of the carpet. Vertical warp tension line on the right hand side (visible when looking up the pile). Flat weave ends, with vestiges of cut fringes. Ends not overlocked. Original side cords. Surface dirt. Would benefit from a clean. Specialist Comment: Really beautiful tone to blues and pretty yellows. Crisp drawing.
"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."

For comprehensive discussion of this carpet type and comparable Yarkand examples to the present carpet, with the ‘Pomegranate-Vase’ pattern, together with floral motif elements in the borders, see Bidder, Hans, Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Washington International Associates, 1979, Chp.III, The Khotan Carpets, 1.The Vase-Pomegranate Pattern, pp.49-53, plates I & II, which illustrates an example with the pomegranate design against an indigo ground, 17^th/ 18^th century, and another against a saffron yellow ground, 18^thcentury.

For a virtually identical example, with the same ‘Pomegranate-Vase' pattern design against an azure blue ground, including the border width, colours and motifs (with the exception that all the pomegranates across the main field are a red/orange colour, with some very minor yellow highlights), 19^th century, see Herrmann, Eberhart, Von Uschak bis Yarkand, Seltene Orientteppiche aus vier Jahrhunderten, Munich, 1979, No. 111, pg.157.

For another similar comparable Pomegranate carpet, Yarkand/Kashgar, 19^th century, with azure blue ground and red, yellow and ivory borders, see Spuhler, Friedrich, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: Carpets and Textiles, London, 1988, East Turkestan Carpets, No.50, pp.196-199.