Page 251 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF DR. VALLO BENJAMIN
■*232
THE BENGUIAT ALCARAZ CARPET
SPAIN, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY
Even light overall wear, minor localised old repair, reduced along collections around the world. Within this group were men of very
central axis, in very good overall condition different personalities and merchandising capabilities but with one
10ft.8in. x 6ft.9in. (326cm. x 205cm.) thing in common ‘searching, finding and selling only the best’. The
£40,000-60,000 US$46,000-69,000 deeply charismatic Vitall Benguiat, had a keen eye for outstanding
€46,000-69,000 carpets and rugs and traveled far and wide to find examples of
note for their collection, which was later sold at the American Art
Association Galleries, New York, in 1925. Indeed that sale, from
PROVENANCE:
Messrs, Leopold and Vittal Benguiat where the present lot is published contained a second, and equally
The V. and L. Benguiat Private Collection of Rare Old Rugs, American beautiful Alcaraz carpet appeared in the same sale as the present
Art Association, New York, 1925, pl.33 lot, pl.52. A carpet described as having a "Textile pattern" with an
indigo palmette and strapwork lattice laid upon a yellow ground,
The present carpet is an exquisite example of a group of rare Spanish is in the Textile Museum, Washington (Ernst Kühnel, Catalogue
weavings which are among the oldest knotted-pile carpets extant of Spanish Rugs, 12th to 19th century, Washington D.C., 1953,
today. While it is possible that carpet weaving was introduced pl. XXXIII). A closely related carpet of 'Lotto' design but with a
to Spain with the 8th century Moorish conquest of the Iberian similar border of elegant festooned ribbons enclosing flowering
peninsula, it is documented that a flourishing carpet industry existed acanthus appeared on a larger 16th century Alcaraz carpet that
in Spain by at least the 13th century. Early Spanish carpets were sold for a record price at Christie's London, 14 October 1999,
heavily influenced by Islamic design traditions and over time, with lot 100 (front cover). The bi-tonal palette of the present carpet
the continual reclaiming of Spain by Christians, European Gothic is found on a smaller fragment, displaying a European damask
and Renaissance patterns were incorporated into carpets creating inspired design, formerly in the Wher Collection, Switzerland, sold
a distinct Spanish style. During the Muslim domination of Spain, Sotheby's London, 6 November 2018, lot 30. A beautiful but more
Spanish carpets were appreciated throughout the Mediterranean worn example in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv.29-
and there appears to have been a healthy export market, especially to 1889), with the same field displays a border design of a double
Egypt. From the 13th to 15th century with the Christian reconquest outline scrolling stem with stylised leaf motifs. Two examples are
of Spain, the appreciation of these carpets shifted toward Europe depicted in José Ferrandis Torres, Exposicion de Alfombras Antiguas
as there was no other established carpet production in the Western Españolas, Madrid, 1933, pl.XLIII as well as the cover image which
world. Patronage for these carpets in the West came from both the is unfortunately not identified inside. There is an example illustrated
wealthy nobility and the Church. It also appears that it was popular in Ian Bennett, Rugs & Carpets of the World, London, 1981, p.263.
for individuals to pay homage to the church by making gifts of Two further examples were offered in these Rooms 29 April 2004,
such carpets to chapels and convents. The 15th and 16th century lots 240 and 241. A further, slightly smaller example, displaying a
represents the apex of Spanish carpet weaving and it is during this scrolling 'S' leaf border, was in the Caspar Collection (HALI, Issue
period that traditional European designs become predominant with 130, September-October 2003, p.132). That article lists a few
only vestigal Islamic influences remaining. other examples of similar carpets. Only a handful of Alcaraz rugs
existing today have the same clarity of drawing and retain a similarly
During this period, carpet weavers often found inspiration from concentrated palette as the present carpet.
contemporary textile patterns and the source of the design of this
carpet can be seen in 16th century Italian and Spanish velvets and Dr. Vallo Benjamin (1934-2021) was born in Hamadan, Iran to
voided silk brocades applied in a ton-sur-ton method, using two Christian Assyrian/Armenian parents. He first came to the United
shades of the same colour (see S. B. Sherrill, Carpets and Rugs of States to complete his medical training in neurosurgery at New
Europe and America, New York, 1995, p.44, pls.39 and 40 and J. York University, carrying only $100 in his pocket, eventually
Torres-Terrandis, Exposicion de Alfombras Antiguas Espagnolas, becoming a world-renowned neurosurgeon and Chairman of the
Madrid, 1933). The execution of the elaborate interlocking stem Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Langone Health.
lattice and the feathery drawing of the flowering palmettes in the
present lot is of particular note, as is the preservation of the richly Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Benjamin had a great
saturated indigo pattern laid upon the abrashed yellow/olive-green passion for life and an acute eye for beautiful works of art. In the
ground. Interestingly, these textiles were also influenced by Islamic late 1970s, he sought out architect Paul Rudolph and together they
precedents and the intertwining strap-work and palmette design succeeded in creating an austere, luxurious, and singularly beautiful
seen here is a European interpretation of a traditional Islamic New York City apartment. The great room had white marble floors,
pomegranate and vine motif. Most early Spanish carpets are made a soaring eighteen-foot ceiling, state-of-the-art lighting, painted
using a single warp with offset knotting, a technique that may have fabric walls and a wide, clear Plexiglas staircase. The apartment
come to Spain from Egypt between the 8th and 10th centuries. was celebrated for its unique style and was featured on the cover of
The knotting of the present carpet appears finer than most which the Art section of The New York Times in 1984. Assyrian fragments,
is evident in the clarity of the design on the face. Persian carpets, medieval Italian furniture and stained glass,
together with Chinese jades, classical furniture and Tiffany lamps
The pre-World War I period in America saw the emergence of a were successfully displayed to create a harmonious and serene
dozen or more important New York based dealers who specialised home. Dr Benjamin had the present Alcaraz carpet professionally
in rare, historical carpets and were instrumental in discovering mounted to hang above the lofty stair case which evidently has
outstanding pieces which are found today in museums and private helped in its wonderful state of preservation.

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