Antique Bread Sofreh, Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, ...
Item Ref
BM2160
Woven by Afshar nomads circa 1900-1920, this might be described as 'modern art' today and if it were a painting by Mondrian, Klee or Rothko, then it would demand a high price as you might imagine! But, because it was woven art, made by a wandering nomad at the beginning of the 20th century, it would be over-looked! No signature to give it so-called status! Just a magnificent use of spontaneous weaving to create this stunning flatweave which would have been used for simply kneading dough to make the flat-bread (lavash).
The zig-zag movement, I believe, symbolises flowing water, one of the most important things to have in nomadic life along with bread and salt. Flatweaves like this look amazing on the wall. I love it!
Size: 1.30m x 0.97m (4' 3" x 3' 2").
The zig-zag movement, I believe, symbolises flowing water, one of the most important things to have in nomadic life along with bread and salt. Flatweaves like this look amazing on the wall. I love it!
Size: 1.30m x 0.97m (4' 3" x 3' 2").
£1,750
Antique Soumak, Afshar Tribes, Kerman Province, South ...
Item Ref
BM2134
Acquired recently from a private Iranian collection, this fabulous rug was woven in soumak technique.
It comprises six handsome lions in the field - something I have never seen before in Afshar soumak weaving - and with small, stylised peacocks scattered throughout. The rest of the design comprises beautifully-drawn stylised 'botehs'. The 'laleh abassi' main border is finely woven, a design of reciprocal arrow-heads symbolically keeping good from escaping the central field and preventing evil from entering. Note also the extra end panels comprising '8-pointed stars' - symbols of protection.
A truly rare and wonderful rug in mint condition and possibly woven during the first quarter bof the 20th century.
Size: 1.95m x 1.22m (6' 5" x 4' 0").
It comprises six handsome lions in the field - something I have never seen before in Afshar soumak weaving - and with small, stylised peacocks scattered throughout. The rest of the design comprises beautifully-drawn stylised 'botehs'. The 'laleh abassi' main border is finely woven, a design of reciprocal arrow-heads symbolically keeping good from escaping the central field and preventing evil from entering. Note also the extra end panels comprising '8-pointed stars' - symbols of protection.
A truly rare and wonderful rug in mint condition and possibly woven during the first quarter bof the 20th century.
Size: 1.95m x 1.22m (6' 5" x 4' 0").
£6,500
Antique Vanity-Bag, Timuri - Sangtschuli Tribe, Borderlands ...
Item Ref
BM/SC
This tiny but charming little 'chanteh' or vanity-bag has great age and made during the third quarter nineteenth century by the Timuri - Sangtschuli nomads inhabiting the border lands of north-east Persia and north-western Afghanistan.
Although it appears to have had a hard life, I couldn't resist acquiring it, as it has great charm and is a complete little bag which once contained a mirror, coins and some jewellery. I particularly like the braided selvedges, a typical Timuri finish, and these too are complete.
Size: 22cm x 17cm (9" x 7").
Although it appears to have had a hard life, I couldn't resist acquiring it, as it has great charm and is a complete little bag which once contained a mirror, coins and some jewellery. I particularly like the braided selvedges, a typical Timuri finish, and these too are complete.
Size: 22cm x 17cm (9" x 7").
£275
Antique Spoon/Spindle Bag, Qashqa'i Nomads, Fars Province, ...
Item Ref
BM/SB
Two stylised peacocks - symbols of wealth, immortality and divine protection - dominate the ivory cotton ground of this early twentieth century spoon/spindle bag. Three quadrupeds, possibly deer or gazelle, fill the lower part of the bag whilst tassels hang from the base and form a decorative finish to the bag. Note also the long braided cord with single tassel at the top for carrying the bag during migrations. The back of the bag is decorated in horizontal zig-zag lines, quite possibly symbolising flowing water.
Woven by Qashqa'i nomads circa 1920-1930, the bag is complete and in excellent condition.
Size: 31cm x 84cm including tassels (12" x 2' 9" including tassels).
Woven by Qashqa'i nomads circa 1920-1930, the bag is complete and in excellent condition.
Size: 31cm x 84cm including tassels (12" x 2' 9" including tassels).
£750
Antique Prayer-Rug, Gendje, Eastern Caucasus.
Item Ref
BM2094
Gendje, known as Elizabethpol under the Tzars, but today, known as Kirovabad. It is situated between the Caucasian weaving areas of Kazak, Karabagh and Shirvan.
This beautiful little Gendje prayer-rug has a few 'typical' Gendje featurs such as the diagonal motifs in the field and the interesting main border design with its conjoined octagons. The colours in the main border are simply stunning as is the very unusual, relatively plain mihrab in ivory.
Made circa 1880, the rug is in good overall condition, albeit with evenly-low pile and a few minor reweaves.
Size: 1.45m x 0.82m (4' 9" x 2' 8").
This beautiful little Gendje prayer-rug has a few 'typical' Gendje featurs such as the diagonal motifs in the field and the interesting main border design with its conjoined octagons. The colours in the main border are simply stunning as is the very unusual, relatively plain mihrab in ivory.
Made circa 1880, the rug is in good overall condition, albeit with evenly-low pile and a few minor reweaves.
Size: 1.45m x 0.82m (4' 9" x 2' 8").
£2,500
Antique Karachov Rug, Karachov, South-Western Caucasus.
Item Ref
BM2146
This is an exceptional rug from the region of Karachov in the south-western Caucasus, dated 1275 which translates to 1859 - as early a Karachov as can be found these days.
The overall talismanic design is typically Karachov with its large octagonal, central lozenge, in this case on a red ground, and two, square symbols at each end, all containing nine '8-pointed stars'. Within the central, octagonal lozenge, are various small symbols on an ivory background, which is not something readily seen in later 19th century Karachovs. Note also, the 'zigzag' lines on either side of the red ground, one longer than the other and below each line, are 'fives' or 'quincunx' - symbols of protection.
Lastly but hugely important, is the rare and early main border on an ivory background, which I see as double-headed sunbirds, symbolic guardians of the gates of Paradise.
This is a highly important and very collectible rug which is smaller in size to the later 19th century Karachovs, and in very good overall condition.
Size: 1.86m x 1.40m (6' 1" x 4' 7").
The overall talismanic design is typically Karachov with its large octagonal, central lozenge, in this case on a red ground, and two, square symbols at each end, all containing nine '8-pointed stars'. Within the central, octagonal lozenge, are various small symbols on an ivory background, which is not something readily seen in later 19th century Karachovs. Note also, the 'zigzag' lines on either side of the red ground, one longer than the other and below each line, are 'fives' or 'quincunx' - symbols of protection.
Lastly but hugely important, is the rare and early main border on an ivory background, which I see as double-headed sunbirds, symbolic guardians of the gates of Paradise.
This is a highly important and very collectible rug which is smaller in size to the later 19th century Karachovs, and in very good overall condition.
Size: 1.86m x 1.40m (6' 1" x 4' 7").
£6,900
Antique Turkmen Engsi, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...
Item Ref
BM2133
This magnificent Turkmen 'engsi' - yurt door-rug - was made by the Yomut tribes in the trans-Caspian Steppes, Turkmenistan during the mid 19th century.
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
£2,750
Antique Afshar Tribal Rug, Shahr Babak Region, ...
Item Ref
BM2026
What an amazing sky-blue ground!
This stunning Afshar pre-dates the later 19th century examples with its beautiful sky-blue field containing large 'palmettes' beautifully drawn in varying colours of red and coral.
The colour palette indicates to me that it was made by Afshar nomads in the Shahr Babak region of Kerman province circa 1860-1870. This fabulous and highly collectable Afshar is in very good overall condition with a few minor areas of expert restoration, so extremely good that it cannot be seen!
Size: 1.70m x 1.28m (5' 7" x 4' 2").
This stunning Afshar pre-dates the later 19th century examples with its beautiful sky-blue field containing large 'palmettes' beautifully drawn in varying colours of red and coral.
The colour palette indicates to me that it was made by Afshar nomads in the Shahr Babak region of Kerman province circa 1860-1870. This fabulous and highly collectable Afshar is in very good overall condition with a few minor areas of expert restoration, so extremely good that it cannot be seen!
Size: 1.70m x 1.28m (5' 7" x 4' 2").
£3,200
Antique Turkmen Wedding Rug, Teke Tribes, Merv ...
Item Ref
BM2041
This charming little Turkmen wedding-rug was made by a young Teke bride during the second half of the nineteenth century.
The young bride would have made a small rug, as finely knotted as she was able, for her and her future husband to stand on at the wedding ceremony and take their marriage vows.
Wedding-rugs were highly-prized possessions and never intended for sale. Sadly, as the tribes entered the tweentieth century, money might have been scarce and it woulkd have been required to sell their best weavings.
Also, with the Russian advance into Turkmenistan at the end of the 19th century and the massacre of Teke tribes at Merv, many rugs were plundered and eventually sold in the Russian markets. This might have been one of them!
In very good condition, the rug has a madder-red ground and depicting three columns of seven small Teke guls or tribal crests. Particularly attractive are the 'elems' or skirts at each end and complete.
Size: 1.07m x 1.01m (3' 6" x 3' 4").
The young bride would have made a small rug, as finely knotted as she was able, for her and her future husband to stand on at the wedding ceremony and take their marriage vows.
Wedding-rugs were highly-prized possessions and never intended for sale. Sadly, as the tribes entered the tweentieth century, money might have been scarce and it woulkd have been required to sell their best weavings.
Also, with the Russian advance into Turkmenistan at the end of the 19th century and the massacre of Teke tribes at Merv, many rugs were plundered and eventually sold in the Russian markets. This might have been one of them!
In very good condition, the rug has a madder-red ground and depicting three columns of seven small Teke guls or tribal crests. Particularly attractive are the 'elems' or skirts at each end and complete.
Size: 1.07m x 1.01m (3' 6" x 3' 4").
£1,650
Antique Turkmen Engsi, Ersary Tribes, Middle Amu ...
Item Ref
BM2174
This beautiful, yet unusual Engsi (yurt door-rug), has an all-over design field rather than the more typical quartered field pattern. The natural madder-red glows in soft, lustrous wool and the rug is in near-mint condition.
Note the change in the field motifs at the base where the weaver has changed from an angular blue motif to a more curvilinear 'birds-heads' symbol. The main inner border is also interesting and here the weaver has incorporated a vertical tree with hanging amulets - a symbolic design often found in Ersary weavings. The base of the engsi incorporates a rustic-brown elem with the same little trees and amulets and below this panel, a further elem but this time woven in diagonal bands of brocade.
This fabulous door-rug was made by Ersary tribes in the Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan circa 1870-1880.
Size: 2.00m x 1.53m (6' 7" x 5' 0").
Note the change in the field motifs at the base where the weaver has changed from an angular blue motif to a more curvilinear 'birds-heads' symbol. The main inner border is also interesting and here the weaver has incorporated a vertical tree with hanging amulets - a symbolic design often found in Ersary weavings. The base of the engsi incorporates a rustic-brown elem with the same little trees and amulets and below this panel, a further elem but this time woven in diagonal bands of brocade.
This fabulous door-rug was made by Ersary tribes in the Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan circa 1870-1880.
Size: 2.00m x 1.53m (6' 7" x 5' 0").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Engsi, Igdyr Tribe, Astrakhan Province, ...
Item Ref
BM2162
This fantastic Turkmen Engsi (yurt door-rug), must rank as one of the very best in the world market and from the few illustrated in private collections.
Made by the Igdyr tribe - affiliated to the Chowdur and Yomut tribes - it would have been made around the beginning of the 19th century, possibly earlier.
The drawing of the design is superb, comprising an early, natural, deep aubergine-dye, used in the four symbolic gardens with tiny 'birds-heads' and quincunx symbols scattered throughout. It is important to observe how the these tiny symbols have minimal highlighting in the lower two panels and then appear to be more profusely highlighted in the upper two panels. Whatever the weaver was trying to tell us here has sadly been lost in the passage of time.
Particularly striking are the 'elems' - the two lower panels - the upper elem in magnificent glowing madder-red and the lower elem in an abrash of sky and mid blue - absolutely stunning!
I've thoroughly enjoyed it for a week and I must say, I'm sorry to see it go but now it has gone to a very good home where it will be treasured.
If there is a rug to die for then this is it!
Size: 1.76m x 1.33m (5' 9" x 4' 4").
Made by the Igdyr tribe - affiliated to the Chowdur and Yomut tribes - it would have been made around the beginning of the 19th century, possibly earlier.
The drawing of the design is superb, comprising an early, natural, deep aubergine-dye, used in the four symbolic gardens with tiny 'birds-heads' and quincunx symbols scattered throughout. It is important to observe how the these tiny symbols have minimal highlighting in the lower two panels and then appear to be more profusely highlighted in the upper two panels. Whatever the weaver was trying to tell us here has sadly been lost in the passage of time.
Particularly striking are the 'elems' - the two lower panels - the upper elem in magnificent glowing madder-red and the lower elem in an abrash of sky and mid blue - absolutely stunning!
I've thoroughly enjoyed it for a week and I must say, I'm sorry to see it go but now it has gone to a very good home where it will be treasured.
If there is a rug to die for then this is it!
Size: 1.76m x 1.33m (5' 9" x 4' 4").
SOLD
Large Antique Storage-Bag, Azeri Tribes, Azerbaijan.
Item Ref
BM/TC
This huge storage-bag was woven by Azeri nomads in Azerbaijan around 1900 and is complete with plain-weave back and is stuffed to make a large, comfortable floor-cushion.
This bag would have originally been used for carrying clothes and bedding and hung on the flanks of the camels during long migrations.
In excellent condition.
Size: 90cm (3') square.
This bag would have originally been used for carrying clothes and bedding and hung on the flanks of the camels during long migrations.
In excellent condition.
Size: 90cm (3') square.
SOLD
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