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Sotheby's Auctions »
Carpets » lot 270
Sale N07820
PROPERTY OF A CARIBBEAN ESTATE
A YARKAND CARPET, EAST TURKESTAN,
New York 10,000—15,000 USD Session 1
01 Oct 02 2:00 PM
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 130,500 USD
MEASUREMENTS
approximately 12ft. 2in. by 5ft. 11in. (3.71 by 1.80m.)
DESCRIPTION
circa 1800 remnants of original lower flatwoven end,
overcast sides, slits, stains, moth damage, minor
repiling and tinting, small reweaves,
The true understanding of color and proportions displayed
in this carpet make a potent visual statement. The design
incorporates motifs that recall Chinese decorative arts,
such as the fretwork spandrels and lotus blossoms within
the medallions. Here, these are worked on an open red
ground that is contained by a broad and arresting border,
featuring a stunning variegated sea green. Striking and
powerful as this carpet is, its design also appears to be
imbued with ancient Buddhist symbolism. The three
medallions may reflect the placement of statues of Buddha
and two flanking Bodhisattvas on the altars of temples in
a tradition going back 2000 years (see Bidder, Hans,
Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Tübingen, 1979, p.
53-6.) The red field signifies the Sun and the realm of
the senses, Samsara. The blue coloring of the medallions
signifies the spiritual as well as the night, and their
roundness, (known by their weavers as "Ay
Güls,") is representative of the Moon (Bidder, H.,
ibid., p. 53-4.). All of this is here enclosed within a
dramatic reciprocal trefoil border of equally old
tradition and religious significance. This design can be
interpreted as a stylized cloud pattern as well as
archaic ram's horns; the cloud being a celestial sign and
the horns a reference to the proximity of earth to the
powers of darkness (Bidder, H., op.cit., p. 64). Here,
the composition is rendered in saturated and contrasting
colors, creating a visual tour de force that mirrors its
spiritual importance. This carpet appears to be one of
around six known with this design and coloring. The most
similar and famous example is the Meyer-Müller carpet,
sold Christie's New York, September 11, 1990, lot 128,
also published: Halevim, Davide, Oasi: memorie e fascino
del Turkestan Orientale, Milan, 1999; Schürmann, Ulrich,
Central-Asian Rugs, Frankfurt am Main, 1969, pl. 79;
Hali, issue 53, p. 205; and "Auction Price
Guide," Hali, issue 54, p. 176. The other published
examples are in Bidder, Hans, op.cit., pl. V; Spuhler,
Konig, Volkmann, Alte Orientteppiche, London, 1969, pl.
79; Sotheby's New York, May 1, 1982, lot 290; and
Christie's New York, December 13, 2000, lot 82. For
another one with variations in color and corner motifs,
see Sotheby's New York, October 8, 1999, lot 7.
Seen on www.Sothebys.com
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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