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Lot Essay
This carpet perfectly illustrates the technical mastery and dexterity of the weavers of Bijar. The richly saturated colours are a result of their expertise in dyeing but is also due to the lanolin-rich wool that was used which retained the dyes to a much stronger degree than lesser, drier wool. The curvilinear, floral repeat design that fills the present carpet is a lattice formed of linked paired palmettes and alternating flowerheads issuing feathery leaves. Floral lattice designs, such as the Garrus design, proved popular in Bijar weavings and were woven throughout the 19th century.
Production in Bijar included rugs and carpets of varying sizes and shapes, from small saddle bags and wagireh (such as lot 156 in the present sale), to much larger palace size carpets that were often commissioned by high ranking officials (John J. Collins, 'Benchmarks', HALI, Issue 157, p.37). A signed Bijar carpet that bears the same Safavid inspired split-palmette and cloud band border and guard stripes as the present lot, was commissioned by Ali Reza Khan ‘Amir Toman’ (commander of ten thousand) for his daughter Mohtaram Khanom (Hadi Maktabi, The Persian Carpet, The Forgotten Years, 1722-1872, Verona, 2019, p.93, fig.4.6), while a silk-foundation Bijar prayer rug, formerly in the Blau collection, which sold Sotheby's New York, 14 December 2006, lot 103, and which also bears the same border as ours, was dedicated to Nasir al-Din Shah’s brother-in-law Amir Kabir (Mirza Taqi Khan), who served as prime minister from 1848-51.
Production in Bijar included rugs and carpets of varying sizes and shapes, from small saddle bags and wagireh (such as lot 156 in the present sale), to much larger palace size carpets that were often commissioned by high ranking officials (John J. Collins, 'Benchmarks', HALI, Issue 157, p.37). A signed Bijar carpet that bears the same Safavid inspired split-palmette and cloud band border and guard stripes as the present lot, was commissioned by Ali Reza Khan ‘Amir Toman’ (commander of ten thousand) for his daughter Mohtaram Khanom (Hadi Maktabi, The Persian Carpet, The Forgotten Years, 1722-1872, Verona, 2019, p.93, fig.4.6), while a silk-foundation Bijar prayer rug, formerly in the Blau collection, which sold Sotheby's New York, 14 December 2006, lot 103, and which also bears the same border as ours, was dedicated to Nasir al-Din Shah’s brother-in-law Amir Kabir (Mirza Taqi Khan), who served as prime minister from 1848-51.