Object Description
Rare 19th Century Bakshayish Carpet
2.87 x 2.41 m
Early Bakshayish pieces, woven in Persia’s mountainous Northwest, are the close relatives of Serapi-Heriz carpets, though are known for being more expressive and more spontaneous than their Heriz cousins and, as a result, are widely sought after among collectors and designers alike.
Dating to the 19th Century, this Bakshayish carpet is a prime example, showcasing a bold, dynamic tribal design over a muted caramel ground, providing a complimentary backdrop to the wide variety of earthy vegetable-dyed colours in its drawing, including tones of ivory, light blue, sage green and tan. Its composition has a wonderful sense of naivety, with graphic motifs repeated across the field in an unusually open, spacious layout, well-framed by a decorative border of great proportions.
This c. 1870s Bakshayish carpet is in very good practical condition for everyday use, though with a thin pile and some old age-related restoration, as well as a characterful, weathered patina.
This charming carpet would feel equally at home in either a classic or mid-century modern setting – truly one of the most unique examples of its type we have had the pleasure of acquiring in some time, rare in this smaller, squarish format.