Bakhtiari Khan with Inscriptions

208 x 148 cm (6' 10" x 4' 10") Persia, ca. 1900 Condition: good, mostly good pile, scattered small repairs, signs of use at the kilim ends Inscription: "Farmaesh Djenab Djalalatmahab Aghae Sultan Mohammad Khan Humayoun Dam Eqbala Al Ali Amal Bakhtiari" Warp: cotton, weft: cotton, pile: wool In the small group of inscribed Khan carpets, a tree is often depicted at the center, accompanied by vases. The composition of our piece is less common, as it gives prominence to the flower vase, while trees appear alongside it in a charmingly suggested garden landscape. A pair of birds chirps from the tops of the cypress trees, which rise from a flower bed. Right next to the vase, we find slender trees of paradise that seem to bear all the fruits of the earth. Their growth, however, is hindered by the magnificent bouquet of flowers, which stands out beautifully against the rare white background. Upon closer inspection, we discover small red triangular amulets at the top of the mihrab's shoulders. These beautifully illustrate the nomadic tradition of the Bakhtiars, who had become influential and prosperous toward the end of the 19th century. Ian Bennett's two-part article "Carpets of the Khans" in HALI 43, pages 40-51, and HALI 44, pages 18-29, vividly recounts the history of Khan carpets. A carpet that is almost identical to our piece - though slightly fuller and not quite as airily rendered - is shown in black and white on page 47 of the first part. This carpet - or an identical counterpart - was sold 20 years ago, on April 5, 2006, at Sotheby's London as Lot 70. Two years earlier, a Tree of Life carpet sold for €26,400 at Rippon Boswell on May 15, 2004, as Lot 100. In the Zaleski auction held at the same auction house on September 30, 2019, another example was sold as Lot 83 for €20,910. Estimate: € 8000 - 12000 Starting bid: € 5000

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