A part silk Salor main carpet, West Turkestan

 

Overall measurements: 219cm across the top, 224cm across the bottom, 292cm from the left, 291cm from the right. Dense lustrous pile with rich glowing colour, generally even 3mm overall with some minor scattered areas of pile down to knotheads for example minor areas to top border. Some minor oxidisation to dark areas in centre of some guls, for example see centre row from top to bottom and gul placed four along and two up from bottom edge . One 'T' shaped repair approx. 42cm wide 23cm long at extreme points, ideally this would be redone as it is not terribly good quality - probably quite an old repair as the colour is faded, and now doesn't match at all. A number of small scattered repairs generally squarish in shape - probably old moth. The repairs are generally visible in the image as small light coloured squares. There are a few slightly larger repairs, for example second row from top and second column from left there is a faded repair approx. 6cm by 2cm. in upper half of gul. A small repair in right hand outer guard about 15cm from lower corner, cobbled repairs in right hand border approx 35cm. from upper edge. Guardstripes reduced at each end and overlocked. Sideords re-overlocked. Additional photographs of the repairs are available from the department upon request. A really beautiful and elegant example with rich colour and wonderful wool - in very good condition for age. Contact if required harry.grenfell@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A very similar example with use of spacious field design, 'Holbein' border and circular 'Salor' Gols be seen in the Hoffmeister collection Tsareva, E., Turkmen Carpets Masterpieces of Steppe Art, from 16th to 19th Centuries The Hoffmeister Collection, pl. 1, pg. 28., 2011, Stuttgart, this example also with five columns of eleven guls. A further example can be seen in the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, bequeathed by Joseph V. McMullan, accession number 1974.149.46, this example five rows of twelve guls.

It is interesting to note the similarities found in the main guls to the rosettes seen in 16th century Persian works, in particular note the circular apple green rosette found to the left of the Kirman fragment offered Sotheby's, New York, 1 October 2015, lot 98.