Lot Essay
There are a number of features which make the present carpet most remarkable. The two most immediately obvious are discussed by Kurt Erdmann; its shape and the central armorial. Octagonal carpets dating from before 1800 are extremely rare, although a few other examples exist. One, formerly in the Satterwhite estate and sold in these Rooms (15th October 1987, lot 133 and Erdmann, K.: op.cit, pl.258, p.200) is dateable to the seventeenth century and also of South or East Persian origin. Another albeit incomplete vase-technique carpet of octagonal form survives, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (McMullan, Joseph, V.: Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, no.19, pp.88-89). Erdmann notes the existence of other fragments in Teheran, in Washington 'and in other places'. In the same article he shows a vase carpet of typical design apparently woven for the shi'ite shrine in Qum whose outline is in the form of a cross, presumably to fit a particular room.
While East Persian carpets are marginally more likely than those of other Persian origins to be shaped, this is the only vase technique carpet which was definitely made on commission for a European family. It is a great pity that the central design no longer survives. From the wreath around the medallion, which is original and would be inappropriate for the surround to a shield, a monogram or initial is probably the more likely design.
The design is unusual in its treatment of the usual motifs. The vases, instead of being places within a lattice at certain junctures are prominently placed in pairs at each end. May Beattie (Carpets of Central Persia, Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 1976, p.61) notes that "vases placed in obvious rows are exceptional in 'vase' technique rugs...[and] give a late impression". The scrolling tendrils that link the palmettes also lack the strength of the classic vase carpet interlaced trellis, which would support a later dating than the large palmettes at first indicate.
The carpet has many similarities with a rectangular vase-technique carpet sold in these Rooms 20th October 1994, lot 567. Both carpets, most unusually for a wool example, include in the base of many of the palmettes small areas each about 1cm. square of soumac-woven metal-thread. In the cataloguing for that example we noted the similarity of the design to the 'Garrus' design of North West Persia, which became very popular in the nineteenth century, suggesting that the carpet was a mid-way piece between the classic 'vase' carpets and the later North West Persian examples. In the present carpet, most surprisingly, the knotting is symmetrical, which would normally rule out an Indian or East Persian origin. It would however not cause any surprise in a carpet from Senneh, Bidjar or Tabriz. While the design and colours are most certainly not of this north west Persian origin, the carpet, when considered in its entirety, would appear to represent a similar half-way point in the development of carpet design.
While East Persian carpets are marginally more likely than those of other Persian origins to be shaped, this is the only vase technique carpet which was definitely made on commission for a European family. It is a great pity that the central design no longer survives. From the wreath around the medallion, which is original and would be inappropriate for the surround to a shield, a monogram or initial is probably the more likely design.
The design is unusual in its treatment of the usual motifs. The vases, instead of being places within a lattice at certain junctures are prominently placed in pairs at each end. May Beattie (Carpets of Central Persia, Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 1976, p.61) notes that "vases placed in obvious rows are exceptional in 'vase' technique rugs...[and] give a late impression". The scrolling tendrils that link the palmettes also lack the strength of the classic vase carpet interlaced trellis, which would support a later dating than the large palmettes at first indicate.
The carpet has many similarities with a rectangular vase-technique carpet sold in these Rooms 20th October 1994, lot 567. Both carpets, most unusually for a wool example, include in the base of many of the palmettes small areas each about 1cm. square of soumac-woven metal-thread. In the cataloguing for that example we noted the similarity of the design to the 'Garrus' design of North West Persia, which became very popular in the nineteenth century, suggesting that the carpet was a mid-way piece between the classic 'vase' carpets and the later North West Persian examples. In the present carpet, most surprisingly, the knotting is symmetrical, which would normally rule out an Indian or East Persian origin. It would however not cause any surprise in a carpet from Senneh, Bidjar or Tabriz. While the design and colours are most certainly not of this north west Persian origin, the carpet, when considered in its entirety, would appear to represent a similar half-way point in the development of carpet design.