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Lot Essay
In the eighteenth century many of the designs which had been created in south west Persia, and which can be seen in seventeenth century carpets from there which use the "vase" technique, appear to have migrated to the Northern Persian frontier. The panelled garden carpet, the ogival lattice panelled carpet and the blossom and sickle-leaf carpet (see lot 1096) are all examples of this. The design of the present carpet also clearly derives from rugs of the 'Sanguszko' group of rugs whose technique is related to that of the 'vase' carpets but whose precise place of manufacture is less sure. The Cassirer carpet (Spuhler, F.: Oriental Carpets in the Museum of Islamic Arts, Berlin, Berlin, 1988, no.78, pp.80-81, pl.p.220) is close in overall design to the present lot. Although here the design is considerably simplified, both have the central medallion with confronted peacocks forming the main motif. Both also have dogs with open mouths attacking deer who are looking over their shoulders placed immediately flanking the central medallion. Other carpets related to the Cassirer have the cypress trees and the animal combat groups, such as an example sold in our London salerooms (The Bernheimer Family Collection of Carpets, 14 February, 1996, lot 89).
While the origin of the design of this rug is clear, the place of manufacture is less so. The drawing is close to that of a small number of eighteenth century carpets which structurally however do not form a cohesive group. Their origin is also not clear, although the borders of Persia and the Caucasus is the most probable region (McMullan, Joseph V.: Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, no.46, p.186-7; Yetkin, Serare: Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey, London, 1978, vol.II, fig.222, p.95; Volkmann, M.: Alte Orientteppiche, ausgewählte Stcke aus deutscher Privatsammlungen, Munich, 1985, no.14, pp.40-41; and Spuhler, F.: Islamic Carpets and Textiles in the Keir Collection, London, 1978, no.68, ill.p.137). The first of these is almost a copy of the second, which is now in the Wher Collection. These two are very close to the present carpet in drawing, also having a border of very similar composition. The structure of the present carpet, with a brindled brown warp involving one tighter and one looser spun yarn, the loosely packed wefts in a variety of shades of brown, together with a relatively soft wool used in the pile, could indicate an origin over the border into Anatolia.
While the origin of the design of this rug is clear, the place of manufacture is less so. The drawing is close to that of a small number of eighteenth century carpets which structurally however do not form a cohesive group. Their origin is also not clear, although the borders of Persia and the Caucasus is the most probable region (McMullan, Joseph V.: Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, no.46, p.186-7; Yetkin, Serare: Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey, London, 1978, vol.II, fig.222, p.95; Volkmann, M.: Alte Orientteppiche, ausgewählte Stcke aus deutscher Privatsammlungen, Munich, 1985, no.14, pp.40-41; and Spuhler, F.: Islamic Carpets and Textiles in the Keir Collection, London, 1978, no.68, ill.p.137). The first of these is almost a copy of the second, which is now in the Wher Collection. These two are very close to the present carpet in drawing, also having a border of very similar composition. The structure of the present carpet, with a brindled brown warp involving one tighter and one looser spun yarn, the loosely packed wefts in a variety of shades of brown, together with a relatively soft wool used in the pile, could indicate an origin over the border into Anatolia.