Carpets
Included for sale here are selected rugs and carpets from Mr. Nemati's personal collection, many of which are featured in his landmark book, The Spendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries (Rizzoli, 2001). Numerous others are available for investment, so please contact us to learn more.
Carpets - Persian
Carpet After the Original Ardabil
19th Century
Kerman, Persia
14 feet 3 inches by 35 feet, 4.34 by 10.67 meters
This is an extremely rare 19th century copy of the original Ardabil Carpet, celebrated around the world as the oldest dated Persian carpet and one of the largest ever made.
Made in Mr. Nemati's birthplace of Kerman in the 19th century, at 14 feet 1 inch by 35 feet it is believed to be the only antique copy comparable in size to the original Ardabil which has come to market in the past fifty years or more.
The original was woven in the town of Ardabil in northwest Persia during the Safavid dynasty, is signed and dated 946 in the Muslim calendar (equivalent to 1539 AD) and measures 17 feet 6 inches by 34 feet 3 inches. It has resided in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London since 1892.
Our carpet is faithful to the original design every fashion. The border is composed of four parallel bands, surrounding a huge rectangular field which has a large yellow medallion in its center. The medallion is surrounded by a ring of pointed oval shapes with lamps shown hanging from each end. This centerpiece is matched by four corner-pieces, which are quarters of a similar, but simpler composition without the lamps. Each part of the design is filled with one or more types of scrollwork set with swirling flowers or leaves, characteristic of early Safavid design. In some there are also symmetrical snaking forms that represent clouds. As with the original 16th century carpet, the wool pile is extremely dense, allowing for a tremendous amount of artistic detail. And as in the original, making such a large carpet with so many knots would have taken a team of skilled weavers years to complete.
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(Price upon request)
Audience Carpet
Senneh, West Persia
Late 18th Century
12 feet 11 inches by 21 feet 4 inches, 3.95 by 6.50 meters
This is an exceedingly rare audience carpet, distinguished by its large size and condition, woven in the late 18th century in Senneh, Persia (present day Sanandaj) possibly for Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1769-1834), the second Shah of the Qajar dynasty who ruled from 1797 until his death in 1834. Illustrated in plate 36 of Mr. Nemati’s landmark book.
What sets this example apart is that the same fine weave of the smaller carpets has been employed in a large size. Audience carpets are actually four carpets in one, each with a specific purpose. The top rug called enthroned is for the King and his throne. Two carpets on each side indicate where guards are to stand, and the center is reserved for individuals seeking an audience to approcah and kneel to the throne. The reason there is no border in the bottom of the carpet is to remind the audience that from this point they are at the presence of the crown and must proceed accordingly. The central walkway consists of the same Herati design flowers and delicately drawn leaves as the rest of the carpet, but the prominence of colors has been reversed. The three other sections of the rug contain the typical rusty color of Senneh intertwined with light purple, salmon, olive, taupe and navy blue outlines.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 36, pp. 76-77
(Price upon request.)
Rendering of Fath Ali Shah (1769-1834) seated upon his throne and protected by his guards
Plate 36, Pages 76-77
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Farahan Carpet
West Persia
19th Century
14 by 26 feet, 4.25 by 7.90 meters
This massive carpet from the Farahan (Faraghan, Ferahan or Feraghan) district south of Tehran features a central field with traditional infinite herati design common in rugs from this region, but with the added charm of small birds interspersed throughout. Illustrated in plate 44 of Mr. Nemati's book.
The cream spandrels on both ends of the carpet, with their claw-shaped hooks, create a striking frame and are typical of the region. The black primary border is a version of the famous Zili-Sultan vase-and-flower motif with the addition of the decorative birds. Enlargements have been reproduced in the spandrels and the colors in the carpet have been employed with great artistry and are quite varied.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 44, pp. 86-87.
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(Price upon request.)
Plate 44, Pages 86-87
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Bakhtiari Carpet
West Persia
19th Century
15 by 24 feet, 3.95 by 6.50 meters
This huge Bakhtiari carpet was made for a Bakhtiari Khan and features an inscription in a cartouche in the top border that translates to “Made for His Excellency Ali Akbar Khan Bakhtiari in 1303”, 1885 in the Roman calendar. It is illustrated in plate 77 of Mr. Nemati's book. This most probably refers to Ali Akbar Khan Husam al-Dawla, Governor of Tabas (formerly Golshan), capital city of the Tabas county in the southern Khorasan Province. These Khan carpets are rare and important, and have been the subject of much academic research. The pattern is a variant of the herati design which is intricately drawn, however, this is offset by the white ground which imparts a certain rhythm to the design. Note that the bottom border and field become somewhat squashed as the end of the rug is reached by the weavers. The complex major border is a rare, perhaps unique, interpretation of a 17th century strapwork border. A masterpiece of draftsmanship which has all the charm of a tribal weaving.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 77, p. 120.
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(Price upon request.)
Plate 77, Page 120
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Bakhtiari Carpet
West Persia
19th Century
12 feet 7 inches by 19 feet 9 inches, 3.83 by 6.02 meters
This very large Bakhtiari carpet of exceptional quality, comparable to the finest works commissioned by the Khans of Persia, was chosen to be featured on the book jacket to the Dubai edition Mr. Nemati's important text.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, Dubai Edition, 2002, Book Jacket
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(Price upon request.)
Cover Jacket
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Dubai Edition
Dorokhish Carpet
Northeast Persia
Early 20th Century
10 feet 4 inches by 17 feet, 3.15 by 5.18 meters
Doroksh carpets from the mountainous Qainat region are rare, and this example is particularly unusual for its very small and intricate designs. Flowering shrubs accompany the elongated Herati design. It is equally unusual for its three main borders of the same size. Its depth of color and spaciousness make for a very elegant carpet.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 48, p. 91.
(Price upon request)
Plate 48, Page 91
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Mary and Jesus
Kerman, South Persian
Early 20th Century
2 feet 1 inch by 2 feet 3 inches, 0.63 by 0.69 m
This rug, illustrated in plate 27 of Mr. Nemati's book, highlights a peculiar product of the Kerman weaving area that feature Christian imagery. Here the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus are shown on a small-scale rug. Interestingly these rugs, woven by Muslims, were very popular in America at the turn of the century, and many of them seem to have been copied from the same image as is seen by the representation of the crown and halos behind the figures' heads as well as other features. Some people believe that these rugs are the products of the influence of Christian missionaries on the weaving workshops, however, it seems more likely that they were created to fill a commercial need.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 27, p. 69.
(SOLD)
Plate 27, Page 69
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Carpet with Confucian Design
Baotou, China
19th Century
13 feet 10 inches by 18 feet, 4.21 by 549 meters
Our very rare, palace-size Chinese carpet from the nineteenth century is in extraordinary condition, and features a vase at center with prominent lion masks displaying three qiang swords, and a large central field decorated with a variety of symbolic objects. It is in keeping with the so-called "hundred antiques" Chinese carpets displaying ritual objects such as vessels, musical instruments, scrolls and books, brush pots and other objects, all displayed to represent the qualities and interests of a learned Confucian gentleman, in keeping with the philosopher's respect for learning and interest in what was perceived as the golden past. From Baotou, the city in current inner Mongolia known for their craftsmanship and plus, dense pile.
(Price upon request)
Khotan Carpet
East Turkestan
19th Century
5 feet by 7 feet, 1.52 by 2.13 meters
This charming carpet is characteristic of the style originating in Khotan, East Turkestan, featuring abstract, geometric designs and soft colors on an earthen colored ground, and is distinguished by its stylized animal figures.
The ancient Buddhist kingdom of Khotan was founded in 1001, seated in a region along a branch of the Silk Road that ran along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim basin.
Its strategic location led to numerous invasions by the Persians, Turkomen and Indian kingdoms, and these cultures, plus those of Chinese origin, have greatly influenced the unique style of this region over the course of centuries.
Today it is known as the Xinjian region of western China.
(Price upon request)
Savonnerie Nouveau Carpet
Paris, France
10 feet 4 inches by 13 feet 3 inches, 3.15 by 4.42 m
Illustrated in plate 245 of Mr. Nemati's book, this Art Nouveau period carpet has a traditional design including a large central oval medallion bordered by a pattern of dense flower heads. From the revered Savonnerie workshop in Paris, circa 1900.
Literature: The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries, Parviz Nemati, PDN Communications and Rizzoli, 2001, plate 245, pp. 336.
(Price upon request)
Plate 245, Page 336
The Splendor of Antique Rugs & Tapestries
Art Deco Carpet
Savonnerie, France
Circa 1920s
15 by 15 feet, 4.57 by 4.57 meters
This charming and very large octagonal shaped carpet in the manner of Ivan da Silva Bruhns (1881-1980) dates from the first quarter of the 20th century. It depicts the Roman goddess, Diana the Huntress, accompanied by her familiar stags on the hunt, inside a central cartouche with sunburst motif with lined borders.
(Price upon request)