263 cm x 175 cm
This is a spectacular antique tribal carpet was woven by women of the Ainalu, Khamseh tribe on late
19th Century. It belonged previously to the prestigious Kosow Collection, Germany. The most important
private collection of Fars weavings. A few similar examples of this rare figurative rug have been
published. All of them have very definite and constant characteristics: lines of riders, gazelles and
cypresses, all uncommonly realistic, considering it is a tribal rug. The positions of the motifs are
intriguing: while the more recognizable riders and the leaping gazelles are in the expected upright
position, the cypress trees and smaller and less defined gazelles are lying down. Between the horses’
legs, small creatures adorned with spots look like… tortoises! An abundance of flowers, small
quadrupeds and abstract designs reminiscent of the gol farang (french-stranger medallion) fill the spaces
between the lines of the main figures. These are shown in perspective: the horses are rendered with a
partial front view that shows they have ornaments on their chests. A magnificent main border
completes the design of this piece that, according to scholars, has been adopted and modified by tribal
weavers, based on old ‘hunting carpets’ of the Zand period. Wool pile knotted on wool foundation. Both
ends reduced. Borders rebounded. Some repiling and repairs. Even low pile. Good condition for its age.
This is both a highly collectible and an attractive decorative piece of art.
Provenance:
The Kosow Collection, Germany
The Trybiarz Collection, Argentina
This carpet was published in the following catalogs and books:
1- Stuttgarter Aktionhaus Dr. Fritz Nagel, Catalog of Auction 20T, July 1993, # 3137.
2- Rippon Boswell & Co. International Auctioners of rare Carpet & Textiles.Catalog 77, Catalog of
Sale of The Kosow Collection, 2011. Pag. 41. Lot # 48.
3- Book “Rugs & Art”, Hali PL, London 2017, Plate 104, Pages 172 and 173.
A similar example was published in: Opie, James, For the Love of Tribal Carpets, The Bibler Collection.
In Hali 164, London 2010, Page 87.
Rug Nº: 264
Price: Please ask