Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
When the influential Shah Tahmasp (1514-1576) closed many of the royal design workshops in Persia in the 1540s due to his lack of interest in the arts, many Persian artists went to India with their high level skills, workshop experience and sophisticated design vocabulary. Carpets during the Mughal period therefore derived their designs heavily from those of Persia, sometimes copying extant Persian carpet designs, but more often incorporating Indian design vocabulary. During the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-1648) a definite Indian artistic style was developed and can be divided into three design groups (M.S. Dimand and J. Mailey, Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1973, p. 119). The first, decorated with scenes of animals and gardens became known as the 'Paradise Garden' or 'Hunting' carpet, the second group showed the influence of Mughal miniature painting with pictorial and figural scenes, while the third was the symmetrical overall field design of the present lot. Formed by a delicate endless repeat of in-and-out palmettes linked by flowering spiraling vines, the field is enclosed by a border of thick lanceolate leaves that scroll around Persian-style palmettes.
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The Collector: English & European 18th & 19th Century Furniture, Ceramics, Silver & Works of Art
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Condition report
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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
Overall fair condition considering age and type. Areas of wear scattered throughout with foundation exposed. Natural corrosion to oxidized browns. Area rewoven in lower right corner, 6 inches x 5 inches that is now torn and partially unattached with two tears about 5 inches long. Lower left and upper right corners partial and should be stabilized. Both ends missing outer guard stripe. Selvage is unattached and fraying along both sides and needs to be re-done and secured. The carpet feels slightly dry and would benefit from a professional cleaning and servicing.
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Lot 68Sale 19552
North India, 18th CenturyA Mughal Small CarpetEstimate: USD 8,000 - 12,000
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