Arts of the Islamic World & India

Arts of the Islamic World & India

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 136. A large Isfahan carpet fragment, central Persia, mid-17th century.

Property from the Collection of the Late Howard Hodgkin

A large Isfahan carpet fragment, central Persia, mid-17th century

Margin SchemeUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Estimate

10,000 - 15,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

223 by 384cm.

Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Iranian origin into the USA and some or all member countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Any buyers planning to import property of Iranian origin into any of these countries should satisfy themselves of the relevant import regime. Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into the USA or the GCC. In addition, FedEx and US courier services will no longer carry Iranian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Fine Art shipping company.

Ex-collection David Sylvester, London and New York

Sotheby's, London, David Sylvester: The Private Collection, 26 February 2002, lot 85

This fragment forms part of a small sub-group of classical central Persian carpets arranged with large-scale arabesque strapwork. It is most closely related to a carpet of almost identical field and border design in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and formerly in the Widener collection (inv. no.1942.9.476). This fragment, now lacking its outer guard stripes on each side, is of comparable width to the Widener examples, suggesting that it was an equally impressive commission in its entirety. The similarities between the two carpets would suggest they were produced in the same workshop. A further related carpet with a broad strapwork field was sold at Christie’s, New York, 24 November 2009, lot 133.


Safavid Isfahan fragments such as the present lot continue to be treasured given their covetable synthesis of the historical and eminently usable. This synthesis is best shown in the display of the present fragment by both of its illustrious former owners, David Sylvester and Howard Hodgkin, see HALI, no.120, 2002, p.41 and Sotheby’s, London, Howard Hodgkin: Portrait of the Artist, 24 October 2017, pp.50-51. 

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