Persian carpets are a hallmark of Iran’s rich legacy and culture, known worldwide for their intricate designs, bold colours, and quality craftsmanship. Each region of Iran comes with its own unique style of carpet, owing to the diverse cultural heritage that resides in the country. First introduced to Persia in 539 B.C after Cyrus The Great conquered Babylon, carpet making has become an art intrinsically associated with Iranian heritage. Not only do carpets produced in Iran provide a regal touch to any interior they’re part of but they’re also rare to find, making them highly sought after amongst collectors. Some such exquisite Persian carpets coming from the skilled artisans of different regions will be part of our upcoming ‘Imperial Treasures’ auction.

Lot 309: A Poppy Red Sarouk Wool Rug

                  
Originating from the Markazi Province of Iran, Sarouk rugs are best known for their curvilinear designs. Coloured with organic vegetable dyes and hand- knotted with the finest quality wool by skilled artisans, this lot is the perfect example of the Persian art of carpet weaving.A hand- knotted carpet created between 1940 to 1945, it is made from the finest quality wool and dyed with a natural red colour. The outer, main, and inner borders are meticulously decorated with eye-catching floral patterns with deep blue and peach colours. Of all historic Persian rugs, Sarouk rugs are arguably one of the most well-known.

Lot 83: A Herati Motif Tabriz Rug

The weavers of Tabriz, Iran have been renowned for their work since the Safavid period (1501- 1722 A.D.), playing a significant role in the development of the decorative arts in the country. They’re known for creating intricate floral displays and tight, densely- knotted structures with a strong focus on technique and material quality. This exceptional antique Tabriz rug heavily features the Herati motif both on the main border and the field. The Herati motif, commonly seen on carpets originating from Iran, feature a central rosette, typically enclosed by a diamond and surrounded by four acanthus leaves.

Lot 238: An Antique Velvet Red Bakhtiari Carpet
                         
Exceptional Bakhtiari carpets such as the presented lot, are known to be a testament of the skills and efforts of the weavers and dyers of the Persian village of the same name. Owing to their large scale, they often take up to six years to complete. With a rich velvet red colour and a traditional floral pattern weaved in contrasting colours, this carpet is an outstanding work of art.

Lot 184: An Impressive Ghom Rug

This Ghom rug comes from the city of the same name located 150 km south of Tehran. The usage of symbols in these Persian carpets is passed down from one generation to the next and is even thought to shield the rug owners from bad luck. Ivory lotuses and peonies are scattered throughout this rug's field, symbolising renewal and power. It is claimed that the field's navy border serves as a representation of flowing water.

Lot 269: A Luxurious Afshar Wool Rug

Afshar is a style of hand-woven rug produced by the Turkic Afshar tribe, a nomadic group initially located in the mountains surrounding the modern region of Azerbaijan. Since the 19th century, Afshar rugs and carpets have been renowned for their quality, distinctive design and colour scheme. This splendid rug displays the elaborate "Persian Garden" floral motifs in rich, vivid colours. It has traditional ornamental borders and stylized flowers, palmettes, and medallions.

Lot 285: A Rare Kashmar Rug

A rare and unique find, Kashmar rugs are intricately woven textiles that originate from Iran’s Khorasan region. They can be identified by their fine weaving and distinctive patterns called ‘Zirkhaki’. Zirkhaki means ‘what one finds beneath the earth’, referring to artefacts like vases, pots and pitchers - motifs that one can see in this carpet along with elements like birds, animals and trees. Reds are used extensively in the field, with ivory and blue used in the inner and outer border.

Lot 291: An Impressive Deep Red Bijar Carpet

This hand-woven masterpiece is a Bijar carpet from a small city of the same name in Iran. Created by skilled Kurdish weavers, this carpet features an eclectic range of colour composition showcasing the expertise of the dyers. Collectors hold Bijar carpets in high regard for their distinctiveness, durability, and impressive aesthetics. They are identified by their stylised floral and vine patterns.

Lot 286: An Intricate Nain Wool Carpet

Favoured by collectors for their exquisite beauty and precision in craftsmanship, Nain carpets are often seen with a warm beige or ivory background and a color palette ranging from blues, greens to whites. This intricate hand-knotted carpet features floral designs, as well as arabesque patterns, centred by a medallion. The curvilinear designs feature intricate and decorative elements. A central medallion acts as a backdrop resembling a garden on an intricately decorated field of blue or ivory, like the Shah Abbasi. Ivory, blue, and dark red make up its distinctive colour combination and create an impactful contrast.

Scheduled for February 27-28, 2023, our upcoming Imperial Treasures’ auction celebrates a melange of global craftsmanship with ceramics, furniture, crystal chandeliers, fine silver, Persian carpets, vintage clocks, and other decorative items. Visit the website to browse the entire auction catalogue and register to bid.

About AstaGuru
AstaGuru was conceptualised in the year 2008 with the sole purpose of creating a safe and secure platform to conduct online auctions for Indian, Contemporary & Modern Art. The word AstaGuru is a thoughtful conjugation of ‘Asta’, of Italian origin, which translates to auction and ‘Guru’, Sanskrit connotation for ‘master’ that indicates our distinguished finesse at being the leaders of auctioneering art and artefacts in India as well as globally. With the world melting into one harmonious digital cosmos, AstaGuru has strived to successfully bridge the gap between prospective buyers and consignors by transcending the limitations of live auctions. AstaGuru imparts effortless transparency to the process of acquiring and selling art and rare collectables. Our diverse portfolio includes categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately and Vintage Cars. AstaGuru’s mobile app enables our esteemed bidders to follow and participate in our auctions seamlessly, and in real-time.

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