HALI Preview: LARTA at Battersea Park

January 10, 2017

HALI's preview picks from LARTA 2017

9 images

Textile and carpet offerings from Brian MacDonald, James Cohen, Aaron Nejad, C. John and more.

: Fine silk embroidery, probably Macau, China, 19th century. Aaron Nejad

: Art Deco carpet designed by Albert Van Huffell, woven in wool by De Saedeleer, 1922. C. John Rare Carpets

: Deccani floor spread embroidered in silk and metal thread, c. 1750. Peta Smyth

: ‘Cloudband’ Kazak rug, Caucasus, second half 19th century. Hakiemie Rugs

: South Caucasian long rug (detail), c. 1850. James Cohen

: Qashqa’i rug with stylised creatures, 19th century. Brian MacDonald

: Opus Anglicanum panel, 15th century. Embroidery on velvet. Marilyn Garrow

: Tibetan double vajra appliqué, 18th century. Galerie Arabesque

: Russian Orthodox embroidered chalice cover (detail), 17th century. Markus Voigt

As London’s sole annual exhibition focused on high-end, antique carpets and textiles, the London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair (LARTA) has proven itself a much-needed event for the market, and is now in its seventh year. For 2017, the fair will take on a new format with a different location in Battersea Park, as part of the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in January.

With the increased floor space on the mezzanine of the Battersea location, LARTA, which was previously held at The Showroom in London’s Penfold Street, will expand from 11 to 17 exhibitors. ‘I’d been searching for an appropriate larger venue for LARTA in central London when an opportunity arose after I saw the new mezzanine level that was added to the marquee in Battersea Park last year,’ explains event organiser and London-based dealer Aaron Nejad.

Returning to the fair this year with a selection of excellent offerings are James Cohen, Owen Parry, Galerie Arabesque of Stuttgart, Seneh Carpets, Markus Voigt, Hakiemie Rugs Ltd and Andy Lloyd alongside organiser Aaron Nejad and an exciting number of new faces.

Interestingly, Liberty of London will join the event, which will be the brand’s first ever fair. Another new name for LARTA is C. John, a veteran of Grosvenor House and the only fine carpet gallery to hold a Royal Warrant. Leon Sassoon will exhibit a fine selection of carpets, tapestries and textiles from a wide range of periods including a few stylish Modernist carpet designs.

Textile expert Peta Smyth will bring a diverse range of items from her field while designer Gideon Hatch will offer a more contemporary take on carpets with his own abstract rug designs. Arian Arts specialise in Islamic textiles and art. Further exhibitors include Brian MacDonald, Tribal Rugs Gallery and Marilyn Garrow. The great diversity and high quality of the rugs and textiles on offer is one of the fair’s great strengths.