.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The knot count measures approximately 7V x 8H per cm. sq.
This carpet depicts the opening of the Columbian Exposition at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. The most prominent of the portraits at the base of the tree, is that of the great discoverer Christopher Columbus and the other smaller portraits include such luminaries as Alexander III of Russia, Queen Victoria of England, William II, Emperor of Germany and Abdulhamid Khan the Ottoman Sultan.
The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago's self image and American industrial optimism. Among the many exhibits one of the most popular amusements was the first ever Ferris wheel, invented by George Ferris. It was over 250 feet high and is depicted here at the top of the carpet. The large rectangular building in the foreground was the main International Exposition building which, for the first time, was devoted entirely to the revolutionary introduction of electricity.
The historical accuracy of this carpet is overwhelming and even goes so far as to include, a small replica of the Gokstad Viking ship which had been built in Norway especially for the exhibition and was sailed across the Atlantic by ninety-two men for the opening. A carpet with the same cartoon but commissioned by Muhammed Reza Khan and woven by Ali Kirmani, was sold in these Rooms, on 16 April 2007, lot 33, with comparable carpets of the same cartoon but executed by other master weavers including Milani, Christie's London, 8 April 2014, lot 53 and 19 April 2016, lot 59.
This carpet depicts the opening of the Columbian Exposition at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. The most prominent of the portraits at the base of the tree, is that of the great discoverer Christopher Columbus and the other smaller portraits include such luminaries as Alexander III of Russia, Queen Victoria of England, William II, Emperor of Germany and Abdulhamid Khan the Ottoman Sultan.
The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago's self image and American industrial optimism. Among the many exhibits one of the most popular amusements was the first ever Ferris wheel, invented by George Ferris. It was over 250 feet high and is depicted here at the top of the carpet. The large rectangular building in the foreground was the main International Exposition building which, for the first time, was devoted entirely to the revolutionary introduction of electricity.
The historical accuracy of this carpet is overwhelming and even goes so far as to include, a small replica of the Gokstad Viking ship which had been built in Norway especially for the exhibition and was sailed across the Atlantic by ninety-two men for the opening. A carpet with the same cartoon but commissioned by Muhammed Reza Khan and woven by Ali Kirmani, was sold in these Rooms, on 16 April 2007, lot 33, with comparable carpets of the same cartoon but executed by other master weavers including Milani, Christie's London, 8 April 2014, lot 53 and 19 April 2016, lot 59.