Lot 87, Beijing “Nine Dragon” Silk Pile and Metal Thread Chinese "Imperial" Carpet, detail, late 19th century. Estimate $20,000-25,000 

BOSTON, MASS.- Skinner, Inc. announced its auction of Fine Oriental Rugs & Carpets on Sunday, March 13 at 12PM. With over 300 lots on offer, the sale features a number of early, striking collector’s pieces, as well as a broad range of 19th century furnishing rugs and carpets, many of which were consigned from estates or private collections. 

Chinese Rugs 
Among several early Chinese rugs and rug fragments in the sale, one of the most significant is a 16th century Ming Imperial Carpet Fragment (Lot 84, estimated between $8,000 and $10,000). An illustration of a similar carpet was featured in HALI (Issue 173, page 85, “Forgotten Carpets of the Forbidden City”), and a fragment from the same carpet is illustrated in “Glanz der Himmelssoehne, Kaiserliche Teppiche aus China 1400 – 1750,” the groundbreaking catalog by Michael Frances and Hans Koenig (Plate 6, page 66).

Lot 84, Ming Imperial Carpet Fragment, China, 16th century, 4 ft. 5 in. x 2 ft. 1 in. Estimate $8,000-10,000. 

Skinner will also present a magnificent Beijing “Nine Dragon” Silk Pile and Metal Thread Imperial Carpet from the late 19th century, with an inscription reading “Baohedian” (“Hall of Preserving Harmony”) (Lot 87, $20,000-$25,000). 

Lot 87, Beijing “Nine Dragon” Silk Pile and Metal Thread Chinese "Imperial" Carpet, late 19th century. Estimate $20,000-25,000 

the inscription in the top border reads "Baohedian" or "Hall of Preserving Harmony" (the third hall from the main gate of the Forbidden City, and leads to the inner court with the Emperor's bed chamber), 9 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. Very good pile, minor abrasion in metal thread ground.

Kashmir Shawls 
Also on offer is the second instalment of an important private collection of Kashmir Shawls. In addition to a fine selection of 19th century Rumal Shawls, this section of the sale features a late 18th century Kashmir Moon Shawl (Lot 78, $4,000-$5,000) and a striking Striped Shawl, c. 1800 (Lot 74, $2,000-$2,500).  

Lot 78, Kashmir Moon Shawl, 18th century, 4 ft. 8 in. x 4 ft. 8 in. Estimate $4,000-5,000 

Areas of moth damage, backed with ivory shawl material. 

Lot 74, Striped Shawl, Kashmir, c. 1800, 4 ft. 1 in. x 4 ft. 1 in. Estimate $2,000-2,500

Anatolian Kilims 
Included in the sale are a number of early Anatolian kilims that combine amazing color with powerful design. Among the highlights are a Central Anatolian multi-niche Konya Kilim from the 18th century (Lot 144, $4,000-$5,000) and a modest, but charming, example of Turkish village weaving at its best - a mid-19th century Mudjar Yastik with an unusual tree-of-life design (Lot 3, $300-$500). 

Lot 144, Konya Kilim, Turkey, 18th century, 14 ft. x 4 ft. 5 in. Estimate $4,000-5,000

Lot 3, Mudjar Yastik, Central Turkey, c. 1850, 3 ft. 9 in. x 1 ft. 8 in. Estimate $500-600 

Persian “Workshop” Weavings 
The sale is particularly strong in Persian “workshop” rugs and carpets of sophisticated artistry and exceptional technical finesse. Included in this category are a number of very good condition 19th century Kashans, Lavar Kermans, Fereghan Sarouks, and Serapis, among the finest of which is a Serapi Carpet, c. 1890 (Lot 107, $6,000-$8,000). Examples of silk rugs range from a Silk Warp Isphahan Carpet, c. 1920 (Lot 67, $5,000-$6,000) to a Late 20th century Silk Persian Carpet of extremely fine weave (Lot 19, $1,200-$1,500), one of several fine all-silk rugs and carpets from a Florida estate. 

Lot 107, Serapi Carpet, Northwest Iran, c. 1890, 13 ft. 6 in. x 9 ft. 8 in. Estimate $6,000-8,000

Lot 67, Silk Warp Isphahan Carpet, Iran, c. 1920, 10 ft. 1 in. x 6 ft. 9 in. Estimate $5,000-6,000

Tribal Rugs and Weavings 
Within a broad selection of Caucasian, Turkish, and Persian tribal textiles, the highlights include a lovely Bordjalou Kazak rug, c. 1870 (Lot 101 $4,000-$5,000) and a Complete Yomud Tent Band dating from the mid-19th century (Lot 40, $3,000-$4,000). 

Lot 101, Kazak Rug, South Caucasus, c. 1870, 8 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft. 5 in. Estimate $4,000-5,000 

Lot 40, Complete Yomud Tent Band, West Turkestan, mid-19th century, 43 ft. 7 in. x 1 ft. 1 in. Estimate $3,000-4,000 

Scattered tearing near edges, patch at one end, one end folded over and loosely stitched. 

Literature: For more information and similar examples please see Turkoman Carpets in Franconia, Peter Hoffmeister, 1980, plate 37 and 38, pp. 80-81. 

Evening Lecture by Lawrence M. Kearney 
Please join Skinner on Friday, March 11 at 6:30PM for a lecture by Lawrence M. Kearney, Skinner’s Director, Fine Oriental Rugs & Carpets, titled “The Story of Rugs is the Story of Civilization.” The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served, but space is limited. Please RSVP to 508-970-3240 or events@skinnerinc.com. 

Previews, Catalog, and Bidding 
Previews for the auction are free and open to the public. Previews will be held in Boston on Friday, March 11 from noon to 7PM; on Saturday, March 12 from noon to 5PM; and on Sunday, March 13 from 9AM to 11:30AM. Illustrated catalog 2884B is available from the Subscriptions Department at 508-970-3240 or from the Gallery. Prices realized will be available online at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. The Skinner website also enables users to view all lots in the auction, leave bids, order catalogs and bid live, in real-time through SkinnerLive!