Lot Essay
Both this carpet, and that in lot 91, are classic examples of a type which was very sought after in the early years of this century. Both have excellent proportions, the palmettes here being somewhat rounder here than those of the other carpet. The inner border here in particular emphasises the link between these carpets and the Polonaise silk carpets woven in Isfahan. With its meandering flowering vine overlaying arabesques which in turn divide panels of two colours of equal size it is very similar to the main border used in a number of the larger Polonaise carpets, such as the Wiedener Polonaise in Washington D.C. (Dilley, A.U. and Dimand, M.S.: Oriental Rugs and Carpets, Philadelphia and New York, 1959, pl.XIV). For a further discussion of the origin of this group of carpets see the note to lot 91.