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Lot Essay
The inscription at the base of the tree reads: Farmayesh-e Aqa-i Buhjat al-mulk; nigarinda-i naqqash Fursat Shirazi; bafindah Abu'l-Qasem Kirmani (commissioned by Aga Buhjat al-Mulk; designed by Fursat Shirazi; woven by Abu'l-Qasem Kirmani). The lower cartouche reads "The work of the master Abu'l Qasem Kirmani.
The figural cartouches around the edges contain the depictions of peoples identified as: Rumi (Ottoman Turkish), Hindi (Indian), Chini (Chinese), 'Arab (Arab), Australi (Australia), Turk (Turkman), Americani (American), Zangi (negro), Irani (Persian) and Arupani (European).
This rug is very interesting indeed in showing the relationship between the carpets of Kirman in the late 19th century and the contemporaneous artists. A cartoon for a border of a Kirman carpet signed and dated by Sani' Humayun was sold in these Rooms 18 October 1994, lot 103, and a Kirman carpet using exactly that border was sold here 19 October 1995, lot 517. The present carpet is clearly indicated as the design of Fursat Shirazi, a painter who, like Sani' Humayun, is normally known for his very small scale miniature paintings and lacquer, particularly those in the gul-o bulbul (rose and nightingale) floral style.
Similar examples in wool were sold in these rooms Thursday, 30th April 1998, lot 153 and Sotheby's New York, 22 March 1980, lot 131.
Another example remains in the Teheran Museum and was illustrated in 'Das neue Teppiche-Museum Teheran', Hali, Vol.1 No.1, Spring 1978, pl. IV.
The figural cartouches around the edges contain the depictions of peoples identified as: Rumi (Ottoman Turkish), Hindi (Indian), Chini (Chinese), 'Arab (Arab), Australi (Australia), Turk (Turkman), Americani (American), Zangi (negro), Irani (Persian) and Arupani (European).
This rug is very interesting indeed in showing the relationship between the carpets of Kirman in the late 19th century and the contemporaneous artists. A cartoon for a border of a Kirman carpet signed and dated by Sani' Humayun was sold in these Rooms 18 October 1994, lot 103, and a Kirman carpet using exactly that border was sold here 19 October 1995, lot 517. The present carpet is clearly indicated as the design of Fursat Shirazi, a painter who, like Sani' Humayun, is normally known for his very small scale miniature paintings and lacquer, particularly those in the gul-o bulbul (rose and nightingale) floral style.
Similar examples in wool were sold in these rooms Thursday, 30th April 1998, lot 153 and Sotheby's New York, 22 March 1980, lot 131.
Another example remains in the Teheran Museum and was illustrated in 'Das neue Teppiche-Museum Teheran', Hali, Vol.1 No.1, Spring 1978, pl. IV.