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Lot Essay
The knot count measures approximately 8V x 8H per cm. sq.
The scene depicts a polo match between the Turanian king, Afrasiyab, and Siyavush, the son of the Iranian king, Kay Cavus. Siyavush had accepted on the grounds that he be allowed Iranian players for his team, as Turanians would not play their hardest against their own king. Afrasiyab agreed and was wonderfully impressed with the outstanding skill of Siyavush as a player and horseman. Siyavush is seen mounted in the centre of the field wearing a green turban, while Afrasiyab watches from the horizon on horseback.
Abu'l Qasim Kirmani, the master weaver of this unusual Kirman rug, is better known for his versions of the late 1898-9, 'Tree of Life' carpet designed by the master draftsman, Fursat Shirazi, one of which can be found in the Tehran Carpet Museum, with two further examples, one in silk and one in wool, having sold in these Rooms (30 April 1998, lot 153; and 22 April 1999, lot 50). The Tehran Carpet Museum holds another example of the work of Abu'l Kasim, which depicts a tomb carving, similar to one sold in these Rooms, 14 October 2004, lot 72, suggesting that he perhaps wove a series of rugs portraying the various rock carvings depicting the 'King of Kings' of the Aryans, near Persepolis, (E. Gans-Ruedin, Splendeur du Tapis Persan, Fribourg, 1978, pp.436-9). We know from dated material that Abu'l-Qasim was productive for at least three decades with one of his earlier works, dated AH 1879-80, selling at Sotheby's London, 12 October 2005, lot 105, while a later prayer rug dated AH 1905-6 displays a similar millefleurs design as the extremely finely woven carpet, lot 192 in the present sale.
The scene depicts a polo match between the Turanian king, Afrasiyab, and Siyavush, the son of the Iranian king, Kay Cavus. Siyavush had accepted on the grounds that he be allowed Iranian players for his team, as Turanians would not play their hardest against their own king. Afrasiyab agreed and was wonderfully impressed with the outstanding skill of Siyavush as a player and horseman. Siyavush is seen mounted in the centre of the field wearing a green turban, while Afrasiyab watches from the horizon on horseback.
Abu'l Qasim Kirmani, the master weaver of this unusual Kirman rug, is better known for his versions of the late 1898-9, 'Tree of Life' carpet designed by the master draftsman, Fursat Shirazi, one of which can be found in the Tehran Carpet Museum, with two further examples, one in silk and one in wool, having sold in these Rooms (30 April 1998, lot 153; and 22 April 1999, lot 50). The Tehran Carpet Museum holds another example of the work of Abu'l Kasim, which depicts a tomb carving, similar to one sold in these Rooms, 14 October 2004, lot 72, suggesting that he perhaps wove a series of rugs portraying the various rock carvings depicting the 'King of Kings' of the Aryans, near Persepolis, (E. Gans-Ruedin, Splendeur du Tapis Persan, Fribourg, 1978, pp.436-9). We know from dated material that Abu'l-Qasim was productive for at least three decades with one of his earlier works, dated AH 1879-80, selling at Sotheby's London, 12 October 2005, lot 105, while a later prayer rug dated AH 1905-6 displays a similar millefleurs design as the extremely finely woven carpet, lot 192 in the present sale.