Antique Khamseh Confederacy Carpet, Baharlu Tribe, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM1902

Made circa 1870 by the Baharlu taifeh of the Khamseh Confederacy in Fars, south-west Persia, this extremely fine and rare carpet is in very good overall condition albeit with evenly-low pile. The three central flower-heads are surrounded by the 'herati' pattern throughout, symbolising two fish swimming around water-lilies.
The natural colours are vibrant as is the main border design depicting a continouos vine symbolising the eternal cycle of life. The carpet needs to be seen to fully appreciate the fineness of design and quality of the colours.
Size: 3.20m x 1.93m (10' 6" x 6' 4").
£5,500

Antique Qashqa'i Tribal Rug, Rahimlu Sub-Tribe, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM2088

Just in, this beautiful, full lustrous pile Qashqa'i tribal rug was probably made by the Rahimlu sub-tribe or 'taifeh'. It has a rather obscure date in the upper-left of the top lozenge which might read 1320 in the Islamic calendar and which translates, quitye accurately, to 1902 in the Solar calendar.
The indigo-blue field contains a myriad of small stylised flowers, popular with the Rahimlu nomads and at the very base, stlised fish, symbols of happiness. In the centre are two stylised 'trees of life' and just below-left of the cetral lozenge can be seen a stylised human form - quite obviously a male from the close-up!!
This rug was recently discovered hanging on the wall of an old English country house and after deep-washing, the soft, lustrous wool and natural colours are now glowing.
Size: 2.80m x 1.53m (9' 2" x 5' 0").
£5,500

Antique Khamseh Confederacy Carpet, Fars Proivince, South-West ...

Item Ref
BM/SJ1

This beautiful carpet was made by one of the five tribes that form the Khamseh Confederation in Fars Province, south-west Persia during the lat quarter of the nineteenth century. The overall field design contains large botehs with smaller botehs internally and referred to as the 'mother & child' boteh, symbolising fertility and birth. All the colours are natural providing a stunning palette. The main border consists of a continuaous vine with small flowers and botehs, symbolising the eternal cycle of life.
A truly fabulous carpet.
Size: 3.05m x 2.13m (10' 0" x 7' 0").
£4,500

Antique Khamseh Confederacy Rug, Baharlu Sub-Tribe, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM2096

The Khamseh Confederacy and Qashqa'i tribes love of chickens can be seen in this beautiful and early rug from the Baharlu tribe, made circa 1870.
Very finely knotted with a low-cut pile, the indigo-blue field comprises three central lozenges and a field full of stylised chickens!
A stunning and highly collectable rug from this group of weavings.
Size: 1.90m x 1.20m (6' 3" x 4' 0")
£3,500

Antique Qashqa'i Rug, Safi Khani Taifeh, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM2044

I love the beautiful drawing of design on this 19th century rug, possibly made by the Safi Khani taifeh within the Qashqa'i Confederacy. I see the rounded shapes as stylised flowers, opening up to the sun, the most important symbol in tribal life providing life! The madder-red ground is glowing and apart from brown-dye corrosion, the rug is in very good overall condition.
Size: 1.83m x 1.27m (6' 0" x 4' 2").
£1,850

Antique Qashqa'i Rug, Shesh Boluki Sub-Tribe, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM2047

I love natural indigo-blue ground rugs, particularly where the wool used is exceptional and the blue glows like oil floating on water. This rug has to be seen to fully appreciate the gorgeous shades of blue, covered by a myriad of stylised flowers or shrubs. The main border has a powerful rendition of stylised trees on a natural un-dyed ivory background framing the field.
This rug, which I suspect was made by the Shesh-Boluki sub-tribe within the Qashqa'i confederacy, was made circa 1900 and is in very good overall condition with no repairs.
Size: 2.06m x 1.22m (6' 9" x 4' 0").
£1,750

Antique Bread Sofreh, Qashqa'i Tribes, Fars Province, ...

Item Ref
BM2021

Bread sofrehs were used for kneading and rolling the dough to make 'lavash' - the delicious Persian flat-bread. Such utilitarian items were never intended for the commercial markets and few survive the ravages of time, today.
This charming little square sofreh, smaller than normal, might have been made by a young Qashqa'i girl for her use only or it might even have been a dowry weaving. The field depicting small tiles or diamond shapes and the golden-yellow border, is woven in weft-float patterning with the outer and inner borders and the symbolic cross and three 'flowers' having tufts of knotted pile on an indigo-blue plain-weave structure.
This sofreh, made during the early 20th century, is complete and in excellent condition.
Was £975 now £750.
Size: 76cm x 80cm (2' 6" x 2' 8").
£750

Antique Qashqa'i Khan Carpet, Kashkuli Sub-Tribe, Fars ...

Item Ref
BM/QK

This magnificent carpet, with its sky-blue ground covered in stylised fish, referred to as the 'herati' design, was made for a Khan, and in this case, within the Kashkuli taifeh (sub-tribe). The stylised fish, usually two, swimming around water-lilies, symbolically depicts happiness. The design is therefore a water-garden.
The carpet, made by the Kashkuli circa 1860, is extremely finely knotted with rare silk wefts and in excellent overall condition.
Size: 2.40m x 1.60m (7' 10" x 5' 3").
SOLD

Antique Qashqa'i Tribal Rug, Fars Province, South-West ...

Item Ref
BM/JS1

This rug had been hanging on the wall of a collector's English home for 40 years! It's an amazing rug. The animal and bird imagery is quite unique and I can say that it is one of the most interesting Qashqa'i rugs I've ever seen. Spend some time looking at the close-up images and you will see the phenomenal number of stylised creatures that abound throughout. I can see why the collector had it on his wall where he was able to just sit and look at it. The overall condition of the pile is very good. There are a few areas with minor wear and some old repairs but nothing major. The colours are all natural and I would guess the age of the rug to be circa 1860-1870. I can't speak highly enough of this rug - it's magnificent.
For the collector of Qashqa'i rugs, this is one not to be missed!
Size: 2.24m x 1.25m (7' 4" x 4' 1").
SOLD

Antique Gabbeh, Qashqa'i Tribes, Fars Province, South-West ...

Item Ref
BM1040

Simply magnificent! Superb vegetable colours creating a wonderful colour palette. Made during the second half of the 19th century by Qashqa'i tribes in Fars Province, south-west Persia, gabbehs were made then for everyday use in the tents and for wrapping-up children during the long cold winter nights. Today, gabbehs are rare - most were used and discarded when worn out. Those that remain have become highly collectable. The overall condition of this gabbeh is good - evenly low pile but very acceptable.
Size: 2.34m x 1.40m (7' 8" x 4' 7").
SOLD

Antique Qashqa'i Rug, Kashkuli Sub-Tribe, Fars Province, ...

Item Ref
BM1157

Qashqa'i elegance personified! Just magnificent and just in today. The Kashkuli were the finest weavers within the Qashqa'i Confederacy and here we see an example of their best work. Look at the close-up images for the best colour - glowing natural dyes throughout - with a near-blue/black field containing Qashqa'i 'scorpion' lozenges in different colours and disappearing out under the borders. The madder-red spandrels contain elegant curvilinear 'botehs' and the glowing indigo-blue main border has a continual two fish swimming around a water-lily, symbolising happiness.
A truly fabulous rug in excellent condition.
Size: 1.90m x 1.22m (6' 3" x 4' 0").
SOLD

Antique Qashqa'i Rug, Fars Province, South-West Persia ...

Item Ref
BM901

This magnificent rug was made by the Qashqa'i tribes, around 1870/1880. The overall condition of the rug is excellent. The natural colours are wonderful and I love the two stylized figures in the centre!
Size: 1.80m x 1.10m (6' 0" x 3' 10").
SOLD