AN INSCRIBED SAROUK RUG FOR A DERVISH, WEST PERSIA

This unusual Sarouk rug depicts a tiger pelt and other accoutrements for a Dervish, including paired axes, kashkul, chequered bags, a sword and a hat with inscriptions around the brim; the inscriptions probably a Persian couplet (undeciphered). Herrmann notes of this piece: “In 1978, Prof. Karl Schlamminger, a German artist and teacher, created a lot of interest with an exhibition of Persian pictorial carpets. While quite a few pieces did not fit well into the standards of carpet art, Cat. No. 1 in his book ‘Persische Bildteppiche’ was a very attractive white ground Dervish carpet with the seven symbols attributed to these Sufi people. The white colour announces that on the imaginary path to the other world the purgation process of the soul has been completed, while in the dark blue ground Dervish carpets the passage through several moon cycles is still in progress. Another good dark blue carpet of this type came up to the market at Sotheby's New York several years ago. This piece was acquired in the art market in November 2005, (lot 83a, van Ham, Cologne).”

Please note that due to recent changes in the U.S. law, carpets and rugs of Iranian/Persian origin can no longer be imported into the U.S