This catalog covers over 340 rugs and carpets representing major weaving centers from Europe to China.
A number of collections were presented in this auction, including a group of Turkmen rugs from the collection of Vojtech Blau. for over 40 years, Mr Blau has been a preeminent dealer in the carpet and tapestry market. the Blau collection includes several Turkmen main carpets, one of which is a rare Yomud C-gul carpet, as well as an extremely fine tentband, and a number of unusual trappings such as an ivory ground Yomud ok-bash or tentpole cover.
Also of Turkmen origin is the cover lot, a Beshir main carpet with a previously unknown design. The naive drawing of flowerheads and a broad sweep of color in this carpet bespeak its tribal origins/ This is a carpet that, while nearly 200 years old, has an ever fresh and remarkably appealing design.
You will also find a number of early Turkish rugs in this auction, including an atypical 17th/18th century Oushak carpet, which has a design generally found in small rugs. An uncommon 'small pattern Holbein' rug from the 16th century is one of the highlights in the Property from a Collection.
The selection of Caucasian rugs includes a number from a Southern California collection, of merit for their diverse designs and good condition. Two 16th century Spanish carpets from the Wher collection and several early Chinese carpets complement the morning session of tribal, village and city rugs.
In the afternoon session, nearly 200 room-sized carpets were offered. This wide selection includes a finely woven, sparkling "mohtashem" Kashan carpet that is a masterpiece of Persian workshop production. A number of carpets from Agra in northern India have come to us from a variety of sources. Woven in jails towards the end of the 19th century Safavid Persian and Mughal Indian weavings. One of the largest carpets I this auction is an Agra that on a grand scale displays an intricate 17th century Isphahan pattern of split-leaf arabesques entertwined with scrolling vines and punctuated by cartouche medallions.
