Notes on David Sylvester

David Sylvester early 16th C. Ushak 'medallion' fragment Sothebys lot 102

• The David Sylvester Northwest Persian Carpet
• The David Sylvester 'Polonaise' fragment
• The David Sylvester Mamluk carpet fragment
• The David Sylvester Cairene fragments
• Sothebys David Sylvester early 16th C. Ushak 'medallion' fragment lot 102
• Sotheby's  David Sylvester Lotto' Ushak 'Lotto' carpet fragment 2nd half 16th C. lot 919

Art in America: Remembering David Sylvester

Sylvester was well known for his knowledge of ancient carpets; he curated three major exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery and his essay “Western attitudes to Eastern carpets” in the catalogue to the McMullan collection, 1972, is still considered a groundbreaking work. Michael Frances of the Textile Gallery worked closely with him on this exhibition and describes his collection of textiles as that of an art historian, not a carpet historian. “It was an aesthetic response; he was not especially interested in the history of carpet production. He was interested in space, balance, refinement of drawing and how the piece moved him as a work of art.”.
Many of the textiles are fragments, a tiny snippet of a great masterpiece, the most important piece being a late 16th-century yellow ground Persian carpet decorated with sickle-leafs and mythological creatures (estimate £8,000-12,000). THE ART NEWSPAPER - NEWS

"Sylvester played the game with increasing influence for nearly half a century. Part-critic, part-salesman of expensive carpets". Brit Art from the Fifties: the reality versus the myth

The David Sylvester 'Polonaise' fragment

The David Sylvester Cairene fragments,

The David Sylvester Mamluk carpet fragment

The David Sylvester Northwest Persian Carpet

DAVID SYLVESTER: THE PRIVATE COLLECTION SELLS AT SOTHEBY'S FOR £2.7 MILLION

THE Private Collection of David Sylvester (1924-2001) Britain's greatest post-war critic and curator of modern art, sold at Sotheby's in London today for an outstanding £2,742,358. The collection of sculpture, paintings, drawings and objects was 99% sold and had been expected to fetch £1 million.

Melanie Clore, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's Europe, said: "We are delighted with the results of the sale which stand as a testament to David Sylvester's exceptional taste and rich eclecticism. The collection epitomised his delight in the well-made artefact, whether from antiquity or from modern art. Today marked a major opportunity for collectors to assess the private life and collection of a key public figure in the history of modern art."

The top lot of the sale was an Egyptian sandstone figure of King Mentuhotep III, dating from circa 2010-1998 B.C., which sold for £795,500, nearly four times its pre-sale low estimate of £200,000. This is the second highest price ever paid for an Egyptian antiquity at auction .

The statue was originally found in the 1930s in the Temple of Monthu at Armant on the west bank of the Nile. It combines the features of the king with the characteristics of the god Osiris, Lord of Netherworld with whom the King identified at death.

Strong prices were also achieved for early classic and Medieval sculpture from South East Asia. In particular the khmer grey sandstone male torso from the 11th century which sold for £179,500 against a pre-sale estimate of £6,000-8,000, reflecting the presence of very enthusiastic group of collectors who recognised what David Sylvester saw in their simplistic beauty. Also a striking gupta red sandstone torso of a Buddha from the 5th century, which fetched £157,500, against a pre-sale estimate of £60,000-80,000.

Among the contemporary works in the collection was a charcoal drawing by Sylvester's great friend Willem de Kooning, which had been a gift from the artist, and sold for £58,000, against a pre-sale estimate of £20,000-30,000.

A second artist who was represented in the sale and who Sylvester met and interviewed in the 1960s was Philip Guston. A drawing by him, with the dedication "To David - Philip", sold for £55,700, more than five times its pre-sale estimate.

Rugs and tapestries formed a key part of the collection. Of particular interest was a Flemish 'feuilles de choux' large leaf verdure tapestry, dating from the second half of the 16th century, which fetched £58,000, more than tripling its pre-sale low estimate. Also an Ushak 'medallion' carpet fragment from the early 16th century, which for the last three decades had occupied a prominent position in David Sylvester's homes, sold for £48,800.

The current record was set at Sotheby's New York in December 1999 when a polychrome sandstone head of King Amenhotep I, from the Christos G. Bastis Collection, sold for £705,030.

Sotheby's - Services & Information - Press Releases

McMullan, Joseph V. et al. Islamic Carpets From The Joseph V. McMullan Collection. London, England: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1972.

David Sylvester wrote the section "Western attitudes to Eastern Carpets". May H. Beattie wrote the section "On The Making of Carpets". Excellent plates of a World Famous collection. This is often called Joe McMullan's little book. That is only valid in comparison to his big book.

Sylvester, David et al.: Il Tappeto Orientale Dal XV al XVIII Secolo. London 1981, 36 CP 104 pp. 11 x 8 Italian text. Early classic rugs and fragments.

Persian Rugs and Carpet

Turkish Rugs

Turkmen Rugs

Southwest Asia Time Line

Caucasian Rugs