Issue 228 · Summer 2026·Kazakh embroidered suede robes, Two 16th-century weavings linked by powerful art dealers, An inscribed Caucasian dowry rug and its matrimonial symbolism
Small-Pattern Holbein Carpet and North Rhine Tapestry at Sotheby's NY, 12 April
Sotheby’s auction in New York on 12 April 2016 of 282 lots of ‘European Decorative Arts from Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts’ includes a substantial number of carpets, tapestries and textiles from both East and West.
Caramoor is an internationally renowned performing arts centre in Katonah, Westchester County, about an hour north of New York City. Founded in 1945 by the ‘daring maverick’ theramin soloist Lucie Bigelow Rosen (1890-1968) and her husband, the successful international banker, musician and art collector Walter T. Rosen (1875-1951), it is located on a 90-acre estate that they purchased as their country home in 1928.
Included in the selection of European furniture, objects and textiles from the Gothic period to the 19th century are a large and complete small-pattern Holbein carpet from the 16th century (estimate $600-800,000), a 17th-century large-medallion Ushak carpet ($30-50,000), an 18th-century Caucasian shield carpet ($80-120,000), and sundry 19th-century furnishing carpets, many of them Chinese.
Small-pattern Holbein Carpet, West Anatolia, late 15th or early 16th century. 2.11 x 4.06 m (6' 11" x 13' 4"). Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 109. Estimate $600,000-800,000. Formerly private collection, Trieste, acquired by the Rosens from from Adolfo Loewi, Venice
Caucasian Shield carpet, 18th century. 2.06 x 4.46 m (6' 9" x 15' 3"). Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 177. Estimate $80,000-120,000. Formerly Hollitscher Collection, Berlin
Large-medallion Ushak carpet, west Anatolia, early 17th century. 4.04 x 9.29m (13' 3" x 30' 6"). Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 182. Estimate $30,000-50,000. Reputedly from Valladolid Cathedral in Spain, acquired by the Rosens from Adolfo Loewi, Venice in 1930
There is also an early 16th-century North Rhine tapestry of Samson and Delilah ($100-200,000), as well as other European tapestries and embroidered hangings and fine Venetian furniture from the Rosens’ private collection, which furnished either the Rosen House at Caramoor or their New York townhouse at 34 West 54th Street.
A NORTH RHINE TAPESTRY DEPICTING THE STORY OF SAMSON AND DELILAH, BASEL CIRCA 1510-1520. inscribed: Was mag das beste und d(a)s aller boste sin Das ist ein wib das kein man Ein guttes wib fol loben kan Ein gutes Weib wohl loben kann. 100 x 94.5 cm Provenance: Leopold Iklé, St. Gallen, Switzerland L. Bernheimer, Munich, August 1930, Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 182. Estimate $30,000-50,000
AN UPPER RHINE TAPESTRY DEPICTING KING SOLOMON AND THE TWO RIDDLES OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, DATED 1544, PROBABLY ALSACE. incorporating gold thread, dated 1544. Provenance: Prince of Arenburg, Professor Pringshiem, Munich, 1914, Marczell Von Nemes, Munich, His sale, F. Müller & Cie., Amsterdam, November 13-14, 1928, Lot 179 A. S. Drey, Munich. Sothyeby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 16. Estimate $15,000-25,000
BRUSSELS TAPESTRY PANEL OF CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN EARLY 16TH CENTURY partially woven with gold and silver thread height 19 in.; width 27 in. 48.5 cm; 68.5 cm Provenance: Leopold Iklé, St. Gallen, Switzerland. Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 14. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000 (being sold without reserve)
AN ITALIAN LAMPAS SILK AND GOLD THREAD BORDER PANEL CHRIST AND MARY MAGDALENE 'NOLI ME TANGERE', EARLY 15TH CENTURY, FLORENCE OR SIENA. Provenance: Giorgio Sangiorgi, Rome Adolfo Loewi, Venice. Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 178, estimate $6,000-9,000
A FRANCO-FLEMISH GOTHIC TAPESTRY FRAGMENT OF COURTIERS EARLY 16TH CENTURY. Provenance: Captain Arthur Boyd, Flims, Switzerland Acquired in 1931 Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 23, Estimate $5,000 - 7,000 (to be sold without reserve)
A SWISS NEEDLEWORK PANEL WITH THE BANQUET OF KING AHASUERUS AND QUEEN ESTHER, DATED 1548. Wool and metal thread, dated and inscribed above: Die Frowen hirtz. wend m[ut?] und hirtz. Ester. VII and Der heeren mut. vergust dis ofnt(?). MARCI. 1548. Provenance: Leopold Iklé, St. Gallen, Switzerland L. Bernheimer, Munich, August 1930, Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 22. Estimate $15,000-25,000
These pieces are being sold to provide funding to care for the Rosen House and the treasures there, including intact rooms from European villas and palaces. The house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will still be furnished with notable antiques collected by the Rosens on their extensive European travels.
A LARGE GERMAN ARMORIAL NEEDLEWORK HANGING DATED 1579. Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 280. Estimate $10,000-12,000
A SWISS EMBROIDERED ARMORIAL WALL HANGING DEPICTING THE FOUR SEASONS DATED 1600 AND INITIALED BP. PROVENANCE:Leopold Ilké, St. Gallen, Switzerland, L. Bernheimer, Munich, August 1930 Sotheby's New York, 12 April 2016, lot 3. Estimate $8000-12000
