SMALLER AND MIDDLE SIZED RUGS. 2.

SMALLER AND MIDDLE SIZED RUGS. 2.

Here you will find a mixture of smaller and middle sized rugs from Central Asia and North Africa with lengths up to 275 cms., or 9 feet, (108 inches) with varying widths.

TEKKE TURKOMAN RUG; ANTIQUE: Circa 1900 and in very good condition with lustrous wools. The field has two areas of Abrash. From close examination of the bottom 30 cms. of the rug it appears that a second weaver who was slightly more gifted took over and finished the piece. Worthy of a place in a collection. Reference 3595. Size 130 x 118 cms., or 4ft. 3ins. x 3 ft. Euros 960.

CLOSE UP of a corner shows the rich shades of terracotta, the unusual designs of the border work and the exceptional end borders.

CENTRAL ASIA LONG RUG which is from the city of Khotan, a major trading centre at the start of the southern leg of the famous Silk Road. There are two unusual aspects to the rug. The soft wool is typical of the next city along the Silk Road which is Samarkand. The central medallion design in the field clearly has Turkoman influences although this is easily explained because the land to the immediate south of this part of the Silk Route is home to many Turkoman tribes. Pastel shades with soft wool make the rug perfect for the eyes and bare toes. Reference 3539. Size 293 x 70 cms., or 9ft. 7 ins. x 2ft. 4 ins. Euros 875.

THE MEDALLIONS have been borrowed from neighbouring Tukmenistan They sit in a central panel which has gentle shades of wool with many abrashed sections. A very pleasing rug.

ANTIQUE CAUCASIAN RUG from the region of Kuba in the eastern Caucasus, the village of Seichour. It dates from the early part of the last century and is in very good condition. Nicolas Fokker in his book "Caucasian Rugs of Yesterday has a good history of Seichour and the development of rug weaving there. The deep cobalt blue shade used in the borders is illustrated as plate 323 in "Oriental Rugs, Volume 1, Caucasian" by Dr. Ian Bennett. He places that example as being from the eastern Caucasus. Reference 3552. Size 141 x 107 cms., or 4ft. 8ins x 3ft. 6inches. Euros 1580.

CLOSE UP OF THE BORDERS of another example in Dr. Bennett`s book which is very similar in colours to this piece and is placed as being from the Kuba region. Plate 329 refers.

FINE OLD RUG FROM THE VILLAGE OF KARADJA which lies in Persian Azerbaijan. It has rich glowing colours, dates from the 1930s, but has been cared for and is in excellent condition. Reference 3590. Size 194 x 148 cms., or 6ft. 4ins. x 5ft. Euros 685.

CLOSE UP shows the rich colours and also a fine decorative section of the top border.

RARE ANTIQUE SHIRVAN RUG from the eastern region of Kuba in the Caucasus. The designs have been inspired from other nearby Caucasian rugs, notably ChiChi and Konagkend. It has a fine Kufic border design. Ulrich Schurmann`s invaluable 1964 book "Caucasian Rugs" shows a very similar rug on page 209. Although the pile is very low colours are still rich. The overcasting needs replacing and the ends have been secured. Reference 3596. Size 141 x 122 cms., or 4ft. 8ins. x 4ft. Euros 485.

CLOSE UP OF TOP LEFT HAND CORNER.

UNUSUAL CIRCULAR RUG FROM THE ALPUJARRA MOUNTAINS IN SOUTH EAST SPAIN. In 1492 the Moors, who had colonised Spain since 711, were finally removed by the new incoming King and Queen. Rug and textile weaving was done by the skilled Moorish weavers whose work was so good that special dispensation was granted to several hundred who remained for over 100 years more to carry on their weaving. The Merino wool, still used today, was of such good quality other weaving countries imported it from Spain. The method of weaving is unique and a special fixed loom is used. This allows for some rugs, like this one, to be double sided. The design is incorporated as the rug`s weaving progresses. The fringes are substantial, intricate and are made separately to be joined to the newly finished piece. It is a measure of how little is really known about Alpujarra work that our major source of information is still an excellent text book first published in 1929. Reference 3603. Size 194 cms., or 76 inches in diameter. Euros 550.

CLOSE UP OF THE CENTRAL MEDALLION which features intricate floral designs. The delicate border work around the edge of the circle is harmonious and completes the overall look.

MOROCCAN BERBER HIGH ATLAS RUG from the region of Taznacht which is a weaving centre at the southern end of the range where it joins the Pre Sahara. The bold colourful medallions seem to float on the deepest indigo background. Borders are intricate and detailed which indicates the skill of the weaver. Reference 3480. Size 256 x 160 cms., or 8ft. 5ins. x 5ft. 3ins. Euros 630.

CLOSE UP OF THE LOWER MEDALLION which shows a strong powerful design. The very intricate and complex design which frames the medallion is most unusual.

NORTH WEST PERSIAN VILLAGE RUG. Surrounding the city of Tabriz, the major centre of Persian rug weaving for centuries, are many rug weaving towns and villages, each with their own identifiable designs: One village is called Karadja and it was here this fine, richly coloured rug was woven around the 1950s. Although the main Karadja design is often of stylized medallions the rest of the motifs used are completely different in every rug. Reference 3487. Size 178 x 150. Euros 750.

BORDER CLOSE UP showing an endless flowering creeper in flower shading the different small flowers and lilies growing underneath.

ANTIQUE BALOUCH/BELOUCH RUG from north east Persia, 1920s. There is a band of wear about 30 centimetres /12 inches) across the top half of the field. The rest of the piled centre and borders have full lustrous pile with glowing wools. Both ends have been rewoven and include a kilim band and fine warps. The floral borders are beautiful and the portrayal of the branches in all four corners laying sideways is rare. Plate 38 in "Treasured Baluch Pieces" and plate 3 in "Rugs of the Wandering Baluchi" show this feature. Reference 3490. Size 151 x 98 cms., or 5ft. x 3ft. 4ins. PRICE: A SPECIAL OFFER FOR A BEAUTIFUL OLD RUG NEEDING AN APPRECIATIVE NEW OWNER --- ONLY 165 EUROS.

CLOSE UP showing the most unusual portrayal of the floral shrubs used in each of the four corners.

ANTIQUE ANATOLIAN PRAYER RUG FROM THE REGION OF MADEN. A well preserved antique rug with some re-piling in the centre field which corresponds to the area abraded by the knees of the owner during his frequent daily prayer offering. The colours are incredibly rich and lustrous and a tribute to skills of the dyers who produced them from the array of local plants and flowers. There is a very similar rug which is shown on colour plate 154 in "Oriental Rugs - Volume 4 - Turkish by Zipper and Fritzsche. Reference 3493. Size 152 x 91 cms., or 5 x 3 ft. Euros 900.

CLOSE UP OF THE TOP END OF THE RUG SHOWS THE DEPTH AND RICHNESS OF COLOURS USED IN THE PILE. As is often the case the trade name allocated to a rug is more for convenience than accuracy. The region of Maden is part of the rich agricultural land which lies between the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the mountains of southern Turkey. This rug is from the large village of Camardi which is the gathering point of rugs woven in the whole area in readiness for sale. It has woollen warps and wefts as well as natural dyes. The narrow horizontal bands of design which are used in the main borders are typical of rugs from this origin.

ANTIQUE TEKKE TURKOMAN RUG from southern Turkmenistan. This old Tekke is fine and tightly woven. The field is low and there is corrosion in a few small areas. The outer small border is missing and the two sides finely overcast by hand in the traditional method. Reference 3494. Size 132 x 96 cms., or 4ft. 4ins., x 3ft. 2ins. PRICE: AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A GENUINE ANTIQUE TURKOMAN RUG AND USE IT AS A TABLE/DESK COVER, A THROW OR IN A QUIET AREA FOR ONLY 185 EUROS.

A CLOSE UP TO SHOW THE USUAL FINE AND COMPLEX BORDERS THE BEST EXAMPLES OF TEKKE WEAVING HAVE.

OLD BALOUCH LONG RUG FROM EASTERN PERSIA. I think this old piece is Timuri because of the weave, however there are a number of misleading clues along the way. The Turkoman design of a "gul" is found on Balouch weaving from Sarakh, the colours are found in Balouch weaving from Quchan and the colours in the kilim ends are from Farah. No matter. What is important is that this is an outstanding rug, worthy of a place in a collection. It is so fine and thin it could serve as a cloak. The colours glow and pile is velvety. The condition is impeccable and the long kilim ends an indication of the care with which it was woven. Reference 3495. Size 190 x 120 cms., or 6ft. 3ins., x 4ft. Euros 1350.

CLOSE UP of the centre field showing both major and minor guls and the depth provided by the deep madder background.

TIBETAN RUG FROM THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF XIZANG. As befits the mountainous country the sheep are resilient and produce strong top quality wool for the weaving of rugs. The designs are often of peonies and lotus flowers, both of which are symbolic in the Buddhist religion. For reference, good informative text and colour plates see the excellent book called "Chinese Carpets" by E Gans-Ruedin, from page 187. Reference 3526. Size 162 x 116 cms., or 5ft. 4ins., x 3ft. 10ins. Euros 950.

CLOSE UP OF CENTRAL DESIGN which is a bold portrayal of a group of peony flower heads. The borders feature more delicate sprays of the lotus flowers and leaves.

ANTIQUE KASHKAI RUG FROM THE KHAMSEH CONFEDERENCY, early 20th century. The "bird" design lives up to its name and there are flocks, mostly of chickens and peacocks throughout the field. Although the field is low there is sufficient pile to show the original colours. There is a small area of wear in the top medallion. The ends are intact with beautiful multi coloured pile and original kilim finishes. Thanks to scholar James Opie for his 22 pages of text and colour plates in his excellent book "Tribal Rugs" for so much information. This rug is clearly related in design, colours and structure to the rugs on plates 11.9 and 11.10. Reference 3523. Size 287 x 136 cms., or 9ft. 5ins. x 4ft. 6ins. Euros 850.

CLOSE UP OF THE TOP MEDALLION surrounded by the flocks of birds. The shade of lighter blue is very attractive. It is used extensively in the colour plate 11.10 in the text book.

ANTIQUE AFSHAR RUG FROM THE REGION OF KIRMAN IN SOUTHERN PERSIA. The squarish shape is always a major factor in identifying Afshar weaving, both of their rugs and flat woven soumaks. Whereas most tribal and village rugs are rectangles the Afshars make this squarish shape. James Opie in his excellent book "Tribal Rugs" comments on this. He also shows as plates 12.5 and 12.6 a soumak with an almost identical colour range and design. This is a versatile piece. It is worn lowish but even and is intact. Quiet floor area, table cover, wall hanging or even a throw over an old bench or sofa are all contenders for it. Reference 3520. Size 166 x 138 cms., or 5ft. 6ins. x 4ft. 6ins. Euros 680.

CLOSE UP shows the glorious colours used in the weave. Have you seen better................