Safavid red-ground ‘Palmette and Bird’ carpet, circa 1565-75

Christie’s Auction 21892 London 26 – 25 OCT
Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Rugs and Carpets, Lot 150:

A SAFAVID RED-GROUND ‘PALMETTE AND BIRD’ CARPET
POSSIBLY QAZVIN, NORTH PERSIA, CIRCA 1565-1575
Wool pile on a silk and cotton foundation, lacking outer stripe, areas of negligible wear, localised reweaves and restoration, sides rebound, an additional tape applied on all four sides
16ft.9in. x 7ft.3in. (517cm. x 225cm.)

PROVENANCE
Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934), Paris
With Colnaghi Oriental, London, circa 1975
With The Textile Gallery and Elio Cittone, Milan
Roberto Calvi, Milan
Canadian Collector, sold Christie’s London, 17 October 1996, lot 404
Private Collector, sold Sotheby’s New York, 20 September 2001, lot 221
Gordon P. Getty, sold Sotheby’s New York, 1 February 2013, lot 22, from where purchased by the present owner

Estimate
GBP 2,000,000 – GBP 3,000,000 — $2,393,400.00 – $3,590m100.00

See essay & video.