New world record for a carpet sold at auction
The keenly anticipated sale of Important Carpets from the William A. Clark Collection, deaccessioned by the Corcoran Gallery of Art took place today at Sotheby’s New York. The 25-lot auction totalled $44m for the Washington DC museum. The undoubted highlight of the sale was the new world record price for a carpet sold at auction set by lot 12, the beautiful Clark Kerman sickle-leaf, vine scroll and palmette ‘vase-technique’ carpet, which sold for $33,765,00, almost five times high estimate and far outstripping the previous auction record of $9.5m paid for another 17th century Kerman vase carpet at Christie’s in London on 16 April 2010. All 25 lots sold similarly strong prices. A full report from the saleroom will appear soon but in the meantime here are a few highlights.
The Clark sickle-leaf ‘vase’-technique carpet, probably Kerman, southeast Persia, first half 17th century. Approximately 8ft. 9in. x 6ft. 5in. (2.67 x 1.96m.) Sold Sotheby’s New York, 5th June, lot 12 estimate: $5,000,000 – 7,000,000, sold $33,765,000
The Lafões Esfahan carpet, central Persia, second half 17th century. 44ft. 3in. x 14ft. 2in. (13.49 x 4.32m.). Sotheby’s New York, 5th June, lot 19, estimate, $800,000 – 1,200,000, sold $4,645,000
Ottoman circular carpet, Cairo, Egypt, second half 16th century. 7ft. 4in. x 8ft. (2.23 x 2.44m.) Sotheby’s New York, 5th June, lot 1 estimate, $80,000 – 120,000, Sold $785,000
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