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Top Ten Highest Auction Prices for 2008
Friday, January 9th, 2009

    Lets take a look at the numbers for 2008.  It was definitely an interesting year in the
financial sector, but there were some interesting surprises in the oriental rug industry.
Four major sales between two major Auction Houses Sotheby's and Christie's this year,
combined with important carpets from distinguished Collectors to create a top ten list
ranging from $68k to nearly $4.5 Million.  
    So here's your chance to get a glimpse of these select fine oriental rugs and carpets
that caught high dollar and heavy bidding activity.
  
Number 10
Sotheby's   
A TABRIZ CARPET, NORTHWEST PERSIA
Great example of traditional Mahi field allover-repeating pattern.  
"Turtle" design elements in the border add really nice weight to the
piece.  Classic turn of the century Tabriz colors in nice condition and
well balanced design with reconciled corners.  There was a change in
dye lot toward the top of the rug, however does not detract from the
overall aesthetics of the carpet.  This is a particularly large carpet as
well.  
$ 68,500 USD
Number 9- Two Way Tie
Sotheby's
A FEREGHAN CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA
Nice example of a Fereghan Sarouk with great overall
colors.  Border is a nod to old Safavid type borders which
is somewhat less common for a Fereghan. Field is very
expressive with loose symmetrical hour glass field with
three "medallions".   
$ 74,500 USD
Number 9- Two Way Tie
Sotheby's
A NINGHSIA CARPET, WEST CHINA
Traditional Chinese design with beautifully detailed
concentric borders.  The central medallion is surrounded
bythe traditional cloud band and is flanked by four
smaller medallions that highlight quarter-panels
$ 74,500 USD
Number 8- Three Way Tie
Christie's
A PORTUGUESE ARMORIAL CARPET
An old example with important collector lineage: From the
collection of Tobacco heiress Doris Duke (one of the most
discriminating collectors of Oriental Carpets and Persian
Rugs) and the Newport Restoration Foundation.
$ 80,500 USD
Number 8- Three Way Tie
Christie's   
AN AGRA CARPET
A much older example with important collector Lineage:
From the collection of Tobacco heiress Doris Duke (one of
the most discriminating collectors of Oriental Carpets and
Persian Rugs) and the Newport Restoration Foundation.  
High decorative value.
$ 80,500 USD
Number 8- Three Way Tie
Sotheby's
A TABRIZ CARPET, NORTHWEST PERSIA
From the Markarian Foundation, classic Tabriz with high
decorative value.  Allover lattice design and traditional turn of
the century colors.
$ 80,500 USD
Number 7
Sotheby's
A 'MOHTASHEM' KASHAN CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA
Mohtashem Kashan Carpets are typically among the
highest "grade" of Kashan carpets made post 2nd
quarter 19th century and pre-1900 vintage.  there was
some abrash and unequal weight in the design.  
However, the execution, craftsmanship and quality
demonstrated exceptional understanding of weaving.  
Beautiful colors with high decorative value, an
outstanding example of a carpet with high character.
$ 92,500 USD
Number 6
Sotheby's
A ZIEGLER MAHAL CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA
Poperty from the estate of Peter Terian. Approximately
20ft. 6in. by 17ft. (6.25 by 5.18m.) Circa 1900, Central
Persian Ziegler Mahal.  Red Background, Blue Border.
Selvedge and fringe has been slightly repaired, moth
damage has been re-piled.
$ 98,500 USD
Number 5
Christie's   
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
A much older example with important collector
Lineage: From the collection of Tobacco heiress Doris
Duke and the Newport Restoration Foundation.  High
decorative value. Christie's:  "One striking aspect of
this carpet is the minor border which displays an
unusual vinery design incorporating stylized scrolled
buds. No comparable minor border can be found on
any other extant red-ground Isfahans but the motif is
probably derived from vinery borders found in 16th
Century classical Persian carpets....  This rare and
complete example demonstrates all the highlights of
classical carpets of the type and is a testament to the
magnificence of Safavid court art."
Approximately 16 ft. 1 in. x 6 ft. 11 in. West Anatolia
Circa 1600
$ 116,500 USD
Number 4
Christie's   
A SMALL MEDALLION USHAK RUG
A very old example (circa 1600) in one piece.  Excellent
colors, outstanding contrast.  Very manageable size for
collectors with high aesthetic value. Approximately 4 ft. 10
in. x 3 ft. 11 in.

Christie's:  "Rich in both color and symbolism, this
double-niche medallion Ushak rug represents one of the
finest forms of classical Western Anatolian weaving
traditions. Rugs of this type are recognizable by their
saturated brick-red fields and by their double niche
composition, having one at both the top and bottom of the
field. Prayer rugs generally employ a single niche or
mihrab directing the worshipper towards Mecca,
replicating traditional mosque architecture. In this
example, the double niche is boldly defined by the
spandrels which encompass lively cloudbands and
could conceivably represent the four quadrants of a
medallion, each relegated to its own corner."
$ 158,500 USD
Number 3
Sotheby's
A ZIEGLER MAHAL CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA
Mary Jo Otsea, Head of the Carpets Department at
Sotheby’s, said: “Lot 367, the Ziegler Mahal Carpet,
Central Asia, which brought $170,500 against a pre-
sale estimate of $20,000 – 30,000, is a generously
sized carpet with a large scale overall design in a soft
color palette that is highly sought after for furnishing
today and the condition issues such as holes and
moth damage can be successfully repaired.  It was
also a carpet that was very reasonably estimated and
fresh to the market.” approximately 24ft. by 17ft. 4in.
(7.31 by 5.28m.)
$ 170,500 USD
Number 2 - Two Way Tie
Sotheby's
A ZIEGLER MAHAL CARPET, CENTRAL PERSIA
Ziegler Mahals are in high demand by decorators
mainly due to large print scale and palette.  Popular
colors include terra cotta and light blue, this carpet
features both.  As opposed to Number 6 above,
despite the soft and muted overtone the rug maintains
good contrast and tone-on-tone.  approximately 18ft.
6in. by 10ft. 9in. (5.64 by 3.28m.) From the Estate of
Peter Terian.
$ 182,500 USD
Number 2 -Two Way Tie
Sotheby's
A TABRIZ CARPET, NORTHWEST PERSIA
Darker field colors Tabriz carpets of this vintage tend
not to fetch high premiums.  However, while other
similar rugs have come to auction, in the instance of
this particular piece, the medallion slightly more
unusual for this genre.  Additionally, size and condition
plays a large role in the final hammer of a rug such as
this. approximately 19ft. 10in. by 13ft. 3in. (6.05 by
4.04m.) Circa 1890,  some cotton whites, foldwear,
minor moth damage, reselvaged
$ 182,500 USD
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Number 1...
Highest Price Paid in 2008
ALL TIME RECORD
$4,450,000.00

Christie's
A SILK ISFAHAN RUG
Central Persia, Circa 1600
Approximately 7 ft. 7 in. x 5 ft. 7 in. (231 cm. x 170 cm.)
Notes: Offered by the Newport Restoration Foundation from the Doris Duke
Collection
Additional information
What Contributed to this Rug Fetching A Record Price?

*Condition: fully intact with little end loss
*High Quality: Numerous colors used, outstanding knot density, high overall
craftsmanship made of pure silk.
*Age: Very old example
*History: Important Lineage, previously owned by Doris Duke: one of the most
discriminating collectors of Oriental Rugs and Carpets.

DORIS DUKE’S MILLION DOLLAR RUG LEADS
CHRISTIE’S RUGS & CARPETS SPRING SALE
“No more exquisite harmony was ever realized in any Persian Rug.”
- Aurthur Upham Pope, A Survey of Persian Art
Rugs and Carpets
June 3, 2008
New York – Christie’s New York is pleased to announce its Spring 2008 auction of
Rugs and Carpets on June 3. The sale will be led by a gorgeous silk Isfahan rug
from Central Persia, circa 1600, from The Doris Duke Collection and the Newport
Restoration Foundation (estimate: $1,000,000- 1,500,000). Also on offer will be
ten more rugs and carpets from The Doris Duke Collection with estimates
ranging from $3,000 to $180,000. The proceeds of the sale will benefit the
Collections and Conservation Fund of the Newport Restoration Foundation. The
sale is expected to realize in excess of $2 million.

Woven in Isfahan during the reign of Shah Abbas I (1587-1629), the rug measures
approximately 7’ 7” x 5’ 7” inches. Its brilliant quality is established through the
subtle use of fourteen shades of color - an important contrast from the eight to ten
shades that is typical of fine oriental rugs. The light hues are complemented by
the sapphire blue, scarlet and green areas that radiate throughout the rug.
Adding to the tonal effect is the formal composition of the rug. The overall motif is
achieved through a system of scrolling floral vinery and arabesques, each with its
own personality and destination. The central walnut medallion and triple border
frame the energy that exudes from the lively field. Isfahan and similar, but later,
“Polonaise” rugs were frequently given as diplomatic gifts to heads of state by the
Safavid Shahs of the late 16th and 17th century. The present rug, however, is
far finer and more exquisitely drawn than almost all “Polonaise” rugs.

Grace Rainey-Rogers was one of a number of discerning American collectors of
Islamic Art in the earlier 20th century. She lent a number of items to the
groundbreaking Exhibition of Persian Art held at the Royal Academy in London in
1931 under the patronage of HIM the Shah of Iran. The curator of that exhibition,
Arthur Upham Pope, as a result of its success, published his six-volume
magnum opus A Survey of Persian Art in 1938 in which this rug is one of the very
few reproduced in color. In his description of it, describing in particular the color,
he includes the sentence, “No more exquisite harmony was ever realized in any
Persian Rug.” Over the last century, this rug has been regarded as one of the
most impressive creations of Safavid Persian looms. Since Grace Rainey
Rogers, it has continued to have an illustrious provenance, passing to Hagop
Kevorkian in 1943 and then to Doris Duke in 1990.

Doris Duke (1912-1993) was an American heiress and philanthropist. An
extraordinary woman living in an extraordinary era, Doris Duke’s life reflected her
exquisite taste, limitless passion and total commitment in all its aspects. No area
of interest was unexplored. The fascinating field of Oriental and Islamic Art was no
exception and her collection of rugs and carpets shows an extremely
knowledgeable and dedicated approach.