Christie’s London, 21 April 2015, Oriental Rugs and Carpets, Lot 100. AN IMPORTANT MONGOL EMPIRE WOOL FLATWOVEN CARPET, CENTRAL ASIA OR CHINA, LATE 13TH OR FIRST HALF 14TH CENTURY. Approximately 8ft.1in. x 2ft.8in. (246cm. x 81cm.) Estimate £500,000-700,000 ($747,000 - $1,045,800) Sold: £602,500 ($900,135)
The first of Christie’s three sales during Islamic Week 2015 in London saw the Oriental Rugs and Carpets auction fetch a total of £1,904,500 ($2,830,087) on 21 April.
The ‘Important Mongol Empire Wool Flatwoven Carpet’ (lot 100) as featured on the catalogue cover, probably Uighur in origin and carbon dated to the 13th or 14th century, sold within estimate at £602,500 ($900,135), and the ‘Large Cairene Carpet’ (lot 50) sold above the £60,000 – 80,000 ($89,640 - $119,520) estimate at £134,500 ($199,867). Both went to buyers on the phone. Lot 25, a very fine Kum Kapı silk and metal thread carpet achieved £98,500 ($146,371). Both the North Chinese ‘Geloubewi Five Medallion Carpet’ (lot 68), formerly in the Thyssen Bornemisza Collection, and the ‘Caucasian Animal Carpet’ (lot 40) made £21,250 ($31,578), while the ‘Bernheimer Khotan Capet’ (lot 106) realised £50,000.
Christie’s London, 21 April 2015, Oriental Rugs and Carpets, lot 25, A SILK AND METAL-THREAD KUM KAPI CARPET ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1920, 12ft.11in. x 9ft.5in. (393cm. x 285cm.) Estimate £80,000 - £120,000 ($119,520 - $179,280) Sold £98,500 ($146,371)
The same bidder purchased both lots 98 and 99 at fairly low prices- the ‘Alpujarra Carpet Fragment’ selling at £4,750 ($7,059) and the ‘Ottoman Kilim’ at £3,500 ($5,201). ‘The Indian Silk Gallery Carpet’ (lot 145) achieved £37,500 ($55,725) - £7,500 above the top estimate. Over at Bonham’s, the sale of Islamic and Indian Art, including The Tipu Sultan Collection, lot 54 – a well balanced Shahrisyabz suzani, once the property of Sir William Burrell, sold for a very moderate £21,250 ($31,988).
