A George III Axminster carpet, England

The Estate of William A. Coury

Pile ranges from very good, dense, near original 1/2in. to low to knotheads in some small foldwear areas. Most of the pile is excellent for age. Scattered small slits, all invisible on face due to good pile; recommend securing. Sides reselvaged, ends folded under and sewn. Some minor spot stains. Reverse with cloth band grid. In very good condition, sound fabric, very handsome classic design, good color palette.
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 design of the carpet offered here clearly reflects the interior, and more specifically, ceiling decorations designed by Robert Adam for English homes in the second half of the eighteenth century. Carpets executed at Axminster and Moorhead often echoed the ceilings of the rooms which they decorated. These carpets were conceived to be integral parts of specific interiors and to create a unified look and to make the space a complete Gesamtkunstwerk. Good examples of such interiors are the drawing room at Osterley Park and the music room at Harewood House, see Eileen Harris, The Genius of Robert Adam: His Interiors, New Haven and London, 2001, pp. 163 and 148, respectively. Both of these interiors were fitted with strikingly Neoclassical Axminster carpets. In the present carpet, the arrangement of the design elements with the garland-framed medallion centered by a radiating acanthus and surrounded by interlacing vines and anchored by flowering cornucopiae within a border decorated with naturalistically executed ribbon-tied flowers is typical of the Italianate style for which Robert Adam was famously recognized. This lot remains a true reflection of the elegance favored by Adam and his contemporaries. English carpets from the eighteenth century, particularly those in such outstanding condition as the present lot, rarely appear on the market, making this lot highly desirable.