A Qashqa'i or Shekarlu rug, Southwest Persia

Baron and Baroness Fould-Springer, presumed
Baron Elie de Rothschild 
Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, Abbey Palace, Royaumont, France (Abbey Palace owned by branch of Rothschild family since 1923)
Purchased by present owner 

Overall measurements: 176cm across the top, 174cm across the bottom, 200cm along left side, 192cm along right hand side, (Unusual square-ish format). Pile of exceptionally lustrous wool, varying between 5mm and 12mm in depth, with broad range of colours, now differentially oxidised with the deep indigo and forest green having longest pile. Lovely old, grainy, weave with flexible handle. The rug appears to have sustained moth(?) damage in a band across the centre width at some point, subsequently patched and cobbled to a cloth backing; losses to ends, holes, sides rebound. The department would recommend personal inspection: with judicious conservation, this will be an exceptional Collector's piece. Additional photographs showing the patching on the reverse and the damaged areas are available from the Rug Department. Please email either Stephanie.Douglas@sothebys.com or Jackie.Coulter.Consultant@sothebys.com with requests for images or telephone the department on +44 (0)207 293 5556 if you have any further questions. EMBARGO ON IMPORTATION OF PERSIAN/IRANIAN WORKS OF ART TO THE USA. Due to recent changes in the U.S. law, carpets and rugs of Iranian/Persian origin can no longer be imported into the U.S. Please check with the sale administrator if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to these or any other restrictions or if you need assistance with such enquiries.
"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."

The presence of a stencilled cotton inventory label to the reverse of top right hand corner:  '1534 ..uhst: zimer ' (assumed for Fruhstuck Zimmer (Breakfast Room) suggests this piece came to Royaumont with Baroness Fould-Springer. The only daughter and heiress of the Austrian industrialist Baron Gustav von Springer, Marie Cécile, Baroness von Springer was married in 1905 in Vienna to French banker, Eugène Fould. Eugène, through marriage, obtained the title of 'Baron' and was subsequently called Baron de Fould-Springer.  The rug itself has a border at first glance typical of the genre (see also Lots 65 and 74 in this sale), but the decorations in the field show the influences on the development of tribal pieces within the Fars Province in use of identifiable motifs within the design, including the chequered lozenges, hexagons and importantly a distinctive and clearly recognizable variation of the Persian classical palmette, all scattered across the field. The quality of the wool and the 'Gabbeh' like depth of the pile, the intense, glowing colour, together with these rare motifs in the field results in a weaving which is far from typical. The presence of the palmette motifs creates the tantalising prospect that the weaver was directly familiar with a court carpet prototype, and that this piece is a very early Shekarlu weaving. 

For further Qasqa'i works within this sale see lots 65, 66, 70 and 74. 

EMBARGO ON IMPORTATION OF PERSIAN/IRANIAN WORKS OF ART TO THE USA.
Due to recent changes in the U.S. law, carpets and rugs of Iranian/Persian origin can no longer be imported into the U.S.
Please check with the sale administrator if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to these or any other restrictions or if you need assistance with such enquiries.