Lot 88
  • 88

Caucasian 'Shield' carpet 18th century

Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 USD
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Description

  • Wool, silk, cotton
  • approximately 15 ft. 3 in. by 6 ft. 9 in.: 4.65 by 2.06 m.
silk wefts, cut and rejoined

Provenance

Hollitscher Collection, Berlin

Literature

Robert Pinner and Michael Franses, "Caucasian Shield Carpets," Hali, vol. 1, no. 1, fig. 10, p. 8.
Kurt Erdmann, Der Orientalische Knüpfteppich, Tübingen, 1955, pl. 116. 

Condition

Carpet has been cut and rejoined along central axis, probably missing about half an inch in width. Pile ranges from 1/10th of an inch to low to knot heads and minor spot foundation in areas of foldwear and oxidation. Oxidized dark browns with some minor tinting to foundation. Right border, with an approx 11inch by 11 inch reweave. Further much smaller reweaves scattered throughout. Scattered repiling throughout, generally in small spots and in some oxidized areas, most now faded due to age. A 4 inch by 1 inch butler's bell slit near the center, it has been bound but now with adjacent 8 inch slit with some losses. Further smaller scattered splits-not extensive. Some patches sewn to reverse. Minor partial sides and ends. Sides are still fraying and in some areas partially detached. Now with remnants of later selvages also fraying. Ends with slits. Upper end generally more intact. Both ends secured with binding stitch now fraying. Scattered spot stains and surface dirt. Very supple handle. Excellent color retention. Overall sound condition for age. Will enhance with careful restoration and cleaning. Technical Analysis: Warp: cotton, Z4S, natural ivory Weft: silk, Z2S light madder, 2 shoots Pile: wool, symmetrical knot Density: 9-10 horizontal, 15-16 vertical Sides: not extant Ends: not extant Colors: madder red, deep blue, medium blue, light blue, sky blue, buff, yellow, ivory, walnut
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.

Catalogue Note

‘Shield’ carpets, such as the lot offered here, have long been revered by collectors and scholars as rare and sophisticated weavings from the Caucasus. As such rare, intriguing, and aesthetically outstanding pieces, these rugs were the subject of choice for a thorough discussion in the inaugural issue of Hali magazine, see Pinner, Robert and Michael Franses, “Caucasian Shield Carpets,” Hali, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 4-22. ‘Shield’ carpets were woven with silk in the foundation and demonstrate an unusual grandeur of design for Caucasian weavings. Unquestionably the works of highly skilled weavers, they maintain a vibrancy of coloring and stylization of design remaining Caucasian in sensibility. An attribution to a weaving center more precise than Caucasian would be speculative as there are no documents to support specific towns or workshops. Regardless where exactly ‘shield’ carpets were woven, they are products of workshops expected to meet the highest demands. Dating ‘shield’ carpets continues to be controversial among scholars. C. G. Ellis, Early Caucasian Rugs, Washington, D.C., 1975, p. 96, believes all of the ‘shield’ carpets to be from the 19th century. F. Spuhler, Oriental Carpets in the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, Washington, D.C., 1987, dates some examples to the 19th century, while Pinner and Franses, op. cit., suggest that the type of ‘shield’ carpet presented here was woven contemporaneously with Kuba ‘Afshan’ pattern carpets dating between 1790-1840. Besides the dominating shield design, which is believed to be derived from the ‘lotus palmette’ or ‘Ottoman tulip’ motif, the fields of these weavings also incorporate numerous other elements including stylized flower heads and cypress trees, vinery, winged palmettes, serrated leaves, and sometimes escutcheons.

The flowering shrub border of the present lot appears to be unique among the corpus of known 'shield' carpets. Most ‘shield’ carpets have narrow borders exhibiting the ‘curled leaf’ motif.  The present carpet's border is unusual both in its breadth and design, creating a brilliant compliment to the scale and color of the field pattern.

For related examples, see M.S. Dimand and Jean Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973, p. 268, fig. 230.; Sotheby’s, London, October, 1985, lot 646; Christie’s, London, October, 2006, lot 24; and Sotheby's, New York, December 14, 2006, lot 98.