The Gallery Closing Sale
Lot 548:
Description
Rare and Magnificent ANTIQUE Caucasian silk carpet, tiny knots Dimensions: 105" x 67" (8’9" x 5’7"). Possibly a museum piece, it’s extremely rare to see a large silk carpet on the second hand market, that is from the turn of the century(c.1890) that isn’t worn OR threadbare. Silk as a rule, does not last very well after 75 or 100 years, and this carpet is in fantastic condition, considering its age .There is minimal damage, and minimal wear. Another strange and wonderful aspect of this carpet is the design. I can say in my lifetime I have never seen a Caucasian style silk rug, of this size and quality. The silk carpets tended to be Tabriz or Kerman style, and the nomadic weavers in the Caucasian mountains tended for a coarser thicker wool, something that would last through the cold months of winter. Silk was for the wealthy urban villages, the palaces and mansions, often hung on the wall, for its fragile nature. Another shocking aspect of this carpet is the knots. They seem to be microscopic. See the photos. Mary Kaplan collection, NYC. Columbia University Press published a book on the Kaplan family collection in 1981(The Alice M Kaplan Collection, cataloged by Linda Bantel and published by the Advisory Council of the Dept of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University, 1981.Printed by the Steinhour Press, Distributed by Columbia University Press.).The collection includes museum quality paintings and drawings by Edgar Degas, Egon Schiele, Ammi Phillips. Giorgio Morandi and John Peto, as well as other 20th century masters. Mary Kaplan is the daughter of Alice Kaplan.
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