Page 252 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

VARIOUS PROPERTIES
■y*233
A COMPOSITE KIRMAN 'VASE'
FRAGMENT
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY
Consisting of several assembled fragments of the
same carpet, extensively worn with areas of tinting
and repair, lined
6ft.3in. x 3ft.5in.(192cm. x 104cm.)
£3,000-4,000 US$3,500-4,600
€3,500-4,600

233
This fragment belongs to the ‘vase’ group of secured with three wefts, of which the central silk significant fragment sold in these Rooms, 2 April
carpets, produced for the Safavid court in the weft was heavily depressed. 2020, lot 192. Meanwhile, the alternating flower
seventeenth century , which typically feature large sprays and heads in the border correspond to what
sunburst flowerheads arranged on a three-plane This fragment is unusual in that as well as the field, Dr May Beattie dubbed the ‘frozen’ border, which
lattice, a design which remains legible on this parts of the border are preserved to give a clearer appears on one of the trio of Rothschild vase carpets
fragment. Vase carpets are also be distinguished sense of the original design. The red-ground floral also sold in these Rooms, 19 April 2016, lot 101. For
by their structure, where each row of knots was lattice of the field resembles that of the historically- more modern carpets inspired by the Kirman ‘vase’
group, see lots 191 and 301 in the present sale.

■ 234
A SILK HERIZ RUG
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Heavy corrosion with some areas of loss
5ft.2in. x 4ft.2in. (157cm. x 128cm.)
£3,000-5,000 US$3,500-5,700
€3,500-5,800
The knot count measures approximately 7V x 7H per cm. sq.
The design of the present lot is very closely related to a small group of silk rugs
bearing a central ogival medallion from whose centre four tendrils spring and
issue serrated split palmettes. Of the group, one with a pale ice-blue field, sold
in these Rooms, 30 April 1992, lot 410 and again on 16 October 1997, lot 90.
Although very worn, it bore a date in the inscription cartouche of AH 1231/1815-
16 AD. Another of the group that remained in much better condition than that
example, had the addition of metal-thread highlights. It bore a series of finely
executed inscription cartouches within its border together with the signature of
the weaver, 'amal' (the work of) 'Rajab', (sold in these Rooms, 15 April 2010, lot
76). The inscriptions were specially composed verses that contained a eulogy to
the patron, explaining how the rug would only thrive when sufficiently close to ■*235
him or in his shadow, and similar sentiments. There is a reference to Husayn, but A JOSHAGAN SILK RUG The present rug is another very clear example of this. The main field
that may not be any indicator of the owner's name. Unfortunately the wear and WEST PERSIA, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY displays a north west Persian variant of the flower and palmette lattice
damage to the inscription on the present rug, within the lower cartouche, has Of 'vase' design, some localised repairs, overall good condition design found in early Safavid Kirman 'Vase' carpets (A. C. Edwards, The
rendered it illegible apart from the word, mizan,'scales'. This is further supported 6ft.4in. x 4ft.6in. (194cm. x 138cm.) Persian Carpet, London 1975, p.16, pl. 5). A similar border with angular
by the image of a pair of scales that enclose the signature, which suggests that cypress trees woven on an ivory ground appears on a west Persian silk rug,
£20,000-25,000 US$23,000-29,000
this rug had likely been commissioned by a senior figure within the judicial system. probably woven in Joshagan, which was first sold in Christie's New York,
€23,000-29,000
20 September 1979, (E. Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche, Munich, Vol. IV,
This design gave rise to a prolific number of larger wool carpets later in the The movement of designs from 17th century Kirman to 18th century north Cat. No. 68, pp.198-199). While the lattice design on the present rug clearly
19th century, proving to be Heriz's most popular motif. Right at the end of the western Persian carpets is well documented, and the reasons well-rehearsed. uses bold flowerheads and palmettes, the drawing has become increasingly
same century the same basic design, continued to be woven in silk as well as Many 18th century wool carpets display designs borrowed, sometimes angular and the complex entwined lattice has been simplified with only a
wool. A particularly spectacular example was a rug reputedly commissioned loosely and sometimes very closely, from the Kirman originals. A very suggestion of the original triple plane arrangement, another feature typical
for Muzaffar al-Din Shah, signed by Humi and dated 1897, that sold in these good comparison is given by a carpet in the Burns Collection with its of the changes that occurred as the designs moved. There has been some
Rooms 13 April 2000, lot 150. prototype now in the Metropolitan Museum (James D. Burns, Antique Rugs discussion as to where this group of rugs was woven with suggestions of
of Kurdistan, London, 2002, no.34, pp.126-7; Joseph V. McMullan, Islamic Heriz, Tabriz and Joshagan, but all share the same fine quality of execution,
Silk rugs of the Fath 'Ali Shah period are very rare indeed and while in need Carpets, New York, 1965, no.17, pp.84-5). highly lustrous silk, richly saturated natural dyes and an affinity of design
of some restorative attention, it is clear that the present rug was a special with earlier Safavid carpets.
commission for an important individual. 234
In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty 251
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.