08 April 2010 Bonhams Knightsbridge Oriental Rug auction on 13 April has 202 lots and clearly demonstrates that this room has become a favourite of the London trade for buying and selling. The auction is always lively and well attended, and there are a few lots that will be hotly competed over. Lot 7, an elegant but worn early 19th century Khotan rug, estimate £1,000-1,500, is sure to do better than that but the real prize to be fought over will be lot 83, an unpublished Beshir prayer rug in good condition and colour that still retains its kilim ends. According to Ralph Kaffel’s classification of the type in HALI 151, this is a classic type 2 example with its pomegranate field, and estimated at a mere £2-3,000, one should expect this rug to outperformed the estimate by more than a factor of ten.
Among the room-sized carpets in the sale are two Axminster carpets: one is a unsold returning to the sale, a beautiful reduced early 19th century example but in a wicked condition with rot in the jute foundation, lot 152, but with an estimate of £1,000-1,500 should sell, while lot 141 is a huge Axminster carpet, 7.70 x 12.20m (25’ x 40’) catalogued as dating from the first quarter of 19th century that was previous offered at Phillips years ago against a much higher estimate. The carpet has an interesting provenance as it has once lived at The Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset. The catalogue states that “the carpet was brought to Wells between 1867 and 1894 by Bishop (Lord Arthur) Hervey and came, by repute, from Windsor Castle where Bishop Hervey's brother was curator.” Estimate at £15,000 - 20,000, this is a sure seller depending on condition and buyers being able to view it at another location.
The Bonhams Islamic art sale at Bond Street on 15 April also promises to attract the attention of textile buyers as it is offering a US collection of Persian, Central Asian and Turkish textile fragments ranging in date from 17th to 20th century that are estimated to sell for £250,000. The core of the group are 17th-18th century Safavid textiles and the highest priced of these is estimated £15-20,000, lot 93, a silk and gilt-metal-thread panel which retains its old exhibition label on reverse, 'International Exhibition of Persian Art, London, 1931, MFF1, No. 101'. For any buyer looking for good value in terms of the textiles in the sale, we recommend looking at lot 240, a collection of 15 tiny textile fragments from Persia, ranging in date from 17th-19th century but estimated £1,000-1,500. Later in the sale are also two good quality suzanis, the most interesting of which is lot 332, a Shahrisyabz, estimated £10-15,000, with an unusual variation of the herati design and with a extra panel on its end. |
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