EAST TURKESTAN, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Details

A SILK AND METAL-THREAD KHOTAN RUG
EAST TURKESTAN, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
The silver metal-thread field with an ascending overall design of linked mauve floral sprays, in a metal-thread floral spray and linked angular vine border between pale blue palmette vine and mill-pattern minor stripes, a plain golden yellow outer stripe, a backing strip at one end with attached loops, overall excellent condition
10ft.8in. x 5ft.10in. (324cm. x 178cm.)

Provenance

Anon sale, Leo Spik Auction rooms, Berlin, April 1935, lot 176

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

An almost identical carpet to the present lot can be seen in the collection of Chinese carpets at the Victoria & Albert Musuem in London which is discussed by M.Franses and R.Pinner, 'The Chinese Carpet Collection', Hali, Vol.5, No.2, 1982, pp.142-148. Noted as having been part of a group of six silk rugs which were sent to London from Manchuria for an International Inventions Exhibition in 1885, it would have demonstrated the type of carpet that was being woven at that time for the Imperial Palaces in Peking. That same example is illustrated in A. Hackmack, Chinese Carpets and Rugs, Tientsin, 1924, pl.XXIV.

It would appear that the carpet has been displayed on a wall for much of its life due to its excellent condition. The backing loops on the reverse of the carpet today appear to be original.

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