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Lot Essay
The inscription within the stellar cartouche reads, sherkat-e jabbarzadeh-qalibafiyan va mahmud, 'The Company of Jabbarzadeh-Qalibafiyan and Mahmud'
Whilst other early 20th century workshops such as PETAG began producing Tabriz carpets of similar style, Benlian carpets can be identified by their distinctive eight-pointed star insignia woven in the corner of each inner guard stripe. Of Armenian descent, Edward Benlian was born in Istanbul, (then Constantinople) but re-located to London in 1889 when his father moved his very profitable Tabriz carpet business to London. His family had a strong affinity with the Armenian community of Tabriz and they continued to employ the very best weavers in order to produce carpets of the highest quality, specifically for the European market. His master weavers included Javan Amir Kizi and Mahmud Ghalicheh, by whom the present carpet is woven. Both of these master weavers were extremely successful in reinterpreting the classical carpet designs of 16th and 17th century Safavid Persia, for more modern tastes.
The present carpet is of grander proportions than many of the pieces produced in this particular workshop and the ice-blue field and open serrated leaf lattice are particularly striking. A carpet woven by the same master sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2021, lot 213.
Whilst other early 20th century workshops such as PETAG began producing Tabriz carpets of similar style, Benlian carpets can be identified by their distinctive eight-pointed star insignia woven in the corner of each inner guard stripe. Of Armenian descent, Edward Benlian was born in Istanbul, (then Constantinople) but re-located to London in 1889 when his father moved his very profitable Tabriz carpet business to London. His family had a strong affinity with the Armenian community of Tabriz and they continued to employ the very best weavers in order to produce carpets of the highest quality, specifically for the European market. His master weavers included Javan Amir Kizi and Mahmud Ghalicheh, by whom the present carpet is woven. Both of these master weavers were extremely successful in reinterpreting the classical carpet designs of 16th and 17th century Safavid Persia, for more modern tastes.
The present carpet is of grander proportions than many of the pieces produced in this particular workshop and the ice-blue field and open serrated leaf lattice are particularly striking. A carpet woven by the same master sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2021, lot 213.