A Moghan runner, Southwest Caucasus

restorations

Overall measurements: 94cm across the top, 96cm across the bottom, 313cm the left hand side, 318cm the right hand side. Generally 3-4mm pile with some areas down to knotheads in the ivory field, as visible across the width in the centre. Minor oxidisations to light browns in guards and border. Minor warp tensioning. Upper end border re-woven irregularly to approximately half its depth with localised re-piling adjacent to the hook motifs. Left hand guard stripe mainly rebuilt in upper half and with restorations to the remainder partially rebuilt again in lower 30cm approx. Right hand guard with some re-piling along edges. Both sides with new sidecords. Lower border rebuilt in approx. one third of one corner, corners rebuilt and re-piling to the arrow head motifs. Some of the greens restored e.g. top two pomegranate motifs at upper end. Areas of re-piling in the ivory ground, with some motifs re-piled, most particularly in the lower corner of the field and into the border and then another half a dozen areas in the body of the field vary in size from a few rows of knots up to areas irregularly 20cm approx. in diameter. Upper end of rug with extensive re-piling in the field. Areas of restoration into the outer guards, sidecords replaced.The carpet has obviously gone under professional restoration sometime in the last decade which has been very well executed and the iece is now ready to use or display. A known and rare design, rug is now in sound condition. Restoration is of exemplary standard. Additional photographs are available from the department, contact Harry.Grenfell@sothebys.com however first hand inspection is advised.
"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 present lot belongs to a distinct group of early 19^th century Moghan runners each sharing highly similar patination, colouring and construction on an ivory ground. Two notable examples have come to auction recently, one sold Sotheby’s London, 7 November 2017, lot 152. There are some small differences to the two examples, notably to the inner guard and also the field and border are more evenly spaced in the present lot. The other example was sold Austria Auction Company, Vienna, 9 May 2015, lot 84, published by Burns, Caucasus, Traditions in Weaving, p. 13. In this case the differences between the two are very minimal; both examples share exuberant organic colouring ‘ribboned’ inner and outer grounds on yellow and dark blue and a trellised main field design with flowerheads and each are finely knotted. The marginal difference is the present lot has more spacing between the border motifs. An example of the group, highly similar to the offered lot is published in Herrmann. E., Seltene Orienteppiche IX, Munich, 1987, pp. 82 & 83, pl. 33.