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Lot 323 SILK QAJAR WEAVINGS FROM A PRIVATE DUTCH COLLECTOR (LOTS 323-333)
The following group of eleven Persian silk rugs illustrate the exquisite quality of silk weaving produced in the second half of the nineteenth century, that proved so popular in the court of the Qajar ruler, Naser al-Din Shah (1848-1896). Not only confined to the Royal courts, silk rugs were considered as prized possessions of the Persian elite, highlighting the wealth and luxury that was available to certain families who would specially commission these fine pieces for prayer, decorative adornment, or as gifts.
The Persian cities of Tabriz, Heriz and Kashan, in particular, saw a renaissance in carpet production and came to be known, once more, as outstanding rug-weaving centres in respect to the quality of materials they used, the designs that they drew and the clarity of the colours that they dyed. In addition to Persian Royal and aristocratic patronage, renewed demand from Western markets saw a flourish of new workshops which saw the development of earlier 16th and 17th century designs, adapted to fit smaller formats, which were welcomed both by the emerging clientele in Europe as well as the wealthy elite of the East.
A number of examples in the collection were woven for prayer, and highlight a variety of interpretation of designs from the northern city of Tabriz to the southern city of Kirman. A characteristic of silk is its relative fragility and susceptibility to wear. What is remarkable about this particular group of silk weavings is that almost all remain in near perfect condition. The following collection exemplifies the efforts of the Qajar's to modernise and revive Persia, while managing to reconnect to the former heydays of weaving during the Golden age of the Safavid Empire.
The following group of eleven Persian silk rugs illustrate the exquisite quality of silk weaving produced in the second half of the nineteenth century, that proved so popular in the court of the Qajar ruler, Naser al-Din Shah (1848-1896). Not only confined to the Royal courts, silk rugs were considered as prized possessions of the Persian elite, highlighting the wealth and luxury that was available to certain families who would specially commission these fine pieces for prayer, decorative adornment, or as gifts.
The Persian cities of Tabriz, Heriz and Kashan, in particular, saw a renaissance in carpet production and came to be known, once more, as outstanding rug-weaving centres in respect to the quality of materials they used, the designs that they drew and the clarity of the colours that they dyed. In addition to Persian Royal and aristocratic patronage, renewed demand from Western markets saw a flourish of new workshops which saw the development of earlier 16th and 17th century designs, adapted to fit smaller formats, which were welcomed both by the emerging clientele in Europe as well as the wealthy elite of the East.
A number of examples in the collection were woven for prayer, and highlight a variety of interpretation of designs from the northern city of Tabriz to the southern city of Kirman. A characteristic of silk is its relative fragility and susceptibility to wear. What is remarkable about this particular group of silk weavings is that almost all remain in near perfect condition. The following collection exemplifies the efforts of the Qajar's to modernise and revive Persia, while managing to reconnect to the former heydays of weaving during the Golden age of the Safavid Empire.
A SILK HERIZ RUG
NORTH WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
Closed25 October 2018
Price Realised
GBP 13,750
More Information
Specialist note
The knot count is approximately 7V x 9H per cm. sq.