AN AZERBAIJAN RUG, APPROXIMATELY 229 BY 163 CM.

Davide Halevim: Magnificent Carpets and Tapestries, Christie's London, February 14, 2001, lot 131

Hali 116, May-June 2001, p. 158

This rug is a delightful example of an 18th century transitional weaving, illustrating the transference of designs to regional production, from classical Persian carpets such as the 17th century ‘Vase’ carpets, for example, that illustrated Beattie, May: Carpets of Central Persia, exhibition catalogue, Sheffield, 1976, no.14, p.49. A possible transitional source also includes the carpets of Khorasan, such as the Michaelian Khorasan carpet, see ‘The Property of Lily and Edmond J. Safra’, Sotheby’s New York, 3 November, 2005, lot 160, which has almost identical cypress trees supported by arabesque decorated boxes, flowering shrubs on spiky mounds, and an inner guard stripe closely related the primary border of the present lot . 19th century weavings of both Northwest Persia (Bidjar and Bakshaish tree carpets) and the rugs of Southeast Caucasus, such as the ‘Tree’ Kazakhs are likely descendants of this type of transitional weaving. See also lot 267 in this sale which has related decoration.

Please note that 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