CIRCA 1800

Details

A NORTH WEST PERSIAN KELLEH
CIRCA 1800
The indigo field with rows of yellow arabesque quatrefoils issuing red split palmettes enclosing floral sprays and birds, in a red rosette, serrated leaf and iris border between ivory linked flowerhead stripes, areas of wear, very slight repairs, very slight loss at one end, occasional tinting
11ft.10in. x 6ft.3in. (360cm. x 191cm.)

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 This lot is subject to Collection and Storage charges

Lot Essay

Of all the Persian carpets dating from the later eighteenth and earlier nineteenth century in the collection this is arguably the most beautiful. It has the richness of colouring typical of the best examples of the type, but it is the design which captivates. It combines elements of the gul-hani design with a repeated lozenge design based on radiating split palmettes forming a quatrefoil. This is not far distant in design from one of the two motifs in the classic 15th century "small pattern Holbein design" (F. Spuhler: Islamic Carpets and Textiles in the Keir Collection, London, 1978, nos.5-14, pp.34-41 for example). Could it be that this is a late reappearance of a design created centuries before?

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