168HALI ISSUE 151

ImportantSales inStockholm

Rug, tapestry weave B. Nilsson (detail). Designed 1960. 267x178,5 cm. Semiantique Bidjar. 237,5x144 cm. (detail)

Modern Sale

Designed modern carpets. Auction: April 24–27 Viewing: April 14–22

International Sale Antique, decorative carpets and collector’s rugs. Auction: May 29–June1 Viewing: May 17–27

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CONTEXT AUCTION PRICE GUIDE

KASHGAR CARPET (DETAIL) EARLY 19TH CENTURY 2.01 x4.06M (6'7'' x13'4'')

SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK, VOJTECH BLAU SALE

14 DECEMBER 2006,LOT 101 EST:$80-120,000

SOLD FOR:$96,000 Originally from the Frank M.

Michaelian Estate, this large and luxurious silk and metal

thread carpet was woven some two centuries ago in one of the

western oases of the Tarim Basin area, probably Kashgar. In HALI

144 (p.119) we discussed weavings from Kashgar and noted

how, as the westernmost East Turkestan town on the Silk Road,

the influence of designs and materials from Afghanistan and

India have been a major influence on textile production in

the area. The elaborate flower and branch lattice design here

is clearly derived from a successful 17th century Mughal

decorative scheme that can be seen in woven products from

both east (Hans Bidder, Teppiche aus Ost-Turkestan,Tubingen

1964, pl.XIX, a Khotanwool carpet) and west (some very

fine silk rugs from Tabriz and Heriz). The present lot shows

a fine rendition of this lattice design and a subdued palette

much suited to contemporary Upper East Side interiors.

Whether the effect is due to natural fading, as here, or chem

ical washing, these light chestnuts and subtle greenish tones

have great appeal. The price paid might turn out to be a good

deal, considering the carpet’s excellent overall condition, esp

ecially when compared to the sums in the region of $50,000

paid recently for two similar but battered examples (CLO, 15

October 2005, lot 150 & SNY, 16 December 2005, lot 124).

PAIR OF EPIRUS EMBROID

ERY PANELS (DETAIL) 18TH CENTURY 0.36 x2.01M (1'2'' x6'7'')

SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK 14 DECEMBER 2006,LOT 127

EST:$3,000-5,000 SOLD FOR:$9,000

The positions of the guard stripes tell us that these two

embroidery fragments are the left and right-hand borders

from a much larger panel. Such isolated border fragments from

large Greek embroideries are not uncommon, apparently

due to the Greek custom of splitting embroideries up

between daughters, probably to avoid family squabbles. They

are usually from Epirus, in this instance probably Ioannina,

although sections of Skyros bedspreads also turn up.

Despite the obviously Epirote interpretation on these panels

of the Ottoman saz leaf and rosette style, which had its

heyday in the 16th century, it is surprising how many people

still pass them off as Turkishmade Ottoman work. A border

with a more obviously Ottoman

design also recently made $9,000 (SNY, 16 December

2004, lot 14, HALI 139, p.117 = Penny Oakley, ‘Blossoms and

Pomegranates: Silk Embroideries of the Ottoman Empire’,

in Sifting [sic] Sands, Reading Signs, Studies in honour of

Professor Géza Féhevári, London 2006, p.137, fig.5). It

sold to a Greek buyer, and it is likely that this pair went the

same way. With a currently much weaker dollar, the price

would be a lot less in euros, despite being the same in US

currency as the single panel.

CUENCA CARPET 17TH CENTURY 2.11 x2.97M (6'11'' x9'9'')

SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK 14 DECEMBER 2006,LOT 297

EST:$30-40,000 SOLD FOR:$54,000

We are unfortunately unable to wax as lyrical about this Span

ish carpet as Sotheby’s catalogue with its irrelevant references to

Egyptian and Byzantine textiles. Eccentrically drawn round

els distantly recall the fine 16th century Alcaraz wreath carpets;

splayed eagles appear within and paired animals fill the

interstices, all of which adds up to a mishmash rather than a

coherent rug in the Spanish tradition. Even given the

momentum generated by the Blau sale earlier in the day, the

price achieved is inexplicable unless at least two interior

decorators coveted it. More interesting, if possibly more

awkwardly shaped, Cuenca rugs have been sold recently

for rather less money. A ‘Lotto’ design armorial rug at CLO on 9

October 2006 fetched £12,000 ($22,400, HALI 150, p.135),

while a large rug in Medallion Ushak design at SNY on 16

December 2006 fetched only $8,400 (HALI 146, p.129).

BERLIN CHINOISERIE TAPESTRY (DETAIL) EARLY 18TH CENTURY

3.27 x4.54M (10'9'' x14'11'') CHRISTIE’S LONDON

14 DECEMBER 2006,LOT 51 EST:£100-150,000

SOLD FOR:£153,600 (302,590)

During the past six months

or so there have been a number of very attractive

Chinoiserie tapestries of the History of the Emperor of

Chinagenre on the auction market, including pieces

attributable to the famous Beauvais manufactory from

the mid-17th to early 18th centuries, as well as somewhat later 18th century versions in which the original Beauvais designs by

Vernansal, De Fontenay and Monnoyer were reworked by Jean Barraband in Berlin under the title of the Grossmogulenfolge. The

present lot, Die Audienz beim Kaiser von China, belongs to the latter series, and was substantially the most expensive of four

sold at CLO in December 2006. The other three, Teetrinker, Die Hochzeit, and Gelehrter vor dem Grossmogul, lots 52, 53 & 54,

all sold close to or slightly above their upper estimates for £98,400 ($193,850), £96,000 ($189,120) and £74,400 ($146,570)

respectively. Of the more refined Beauvais versions seen on the auction market since last autumn, a Louis XIV period tapestry,

The Emperor on a Journey, lot 140 in the Segoura sale at Christie’s in New York on 19 October 2006 made $284,000. A

few weeks later, at SNY on 10 November 2006, lot 73, a slightly later reworking of the same theme, Le Prince en Voyage, from

the 1710 series associated with Schloss Ellingen in Franconia, which carry the arms of Franz-Ludwig, Count Palatine of Neuberg

and Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, and which are said to have been a gift to the Order from Louis XV, fetched $475,200,

having previously sold in the same rooms on 24 October 2002, lot 780, for $471,500.

Comments in APG are without prejudice and whenever pos

sible take account of first-hand colour and condition reports.

Prices include premiums but not taxes. US$ conversions

are an average for the week of the sale. Thanks to the sale

rooms for providing images and to our team of contribut

ing editors, whose expertise makes this section possible.

For more auction results see www.hali.com/apg.aspx

HALI ISSUE 151169