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Lot Essay
This sunburst Kazak belongs to a rare group of well-documented late 18th and early 19th century rugs, of which this is the only known blue-ground example. The group represent a bridge in the design evolution of the sunburst carpets of 18th century Karabagh, to the ubiquitous Chelaberd rugs of the later 19th century. The known examples are:
1. The Victoria and Albert Museum sunburst rug (Hali, vol.3, no.2, fig.7, p.99)
2. The red Herrmann/Bortz/Fernandes (H/B/F) rug (Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche IV, Munich, 1982, no.44, pp.146-7; Hali, vol.5, no.2, pl.7, p.208; The Bortz Collection, Sotheby's London, 29 May 1998, lot 13; Hali 112, September/October 2000, p.141)
3. The red starburst medallion rug formerly in the James D. Burns Collection sold in these Rooms, 18 October 2001, lot 277
4. The sunburst Kazak in the collection of the National Gallery of Prague (illustrated in 'Exhibitions in Brief', Hali 149, November 2006, p.99)
5. The Richardson sunburst medallion rug, current whereabouts unknown (Through the Collector's Eye, ; Oriental Rugs from New England Private Collections, Rhode Island, 1991, fig.4, p.18)
6. The Liambei rug, sold in these Rooms, 7 October 2010, lot 97 ('APG', Hali 167, p.157).
Whilst the present rug is unique amongst the rest of the red-ground examples, it is most closely related to the rug in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Both share a beautiful archaic border and have charming animal and bird details in the field design.
1. The Victoria and Albert Museum sunburst rug (Hali, vol.3, no.2, fig.7, p.99)
2. The red Herrmann/Bortz/Fernandes (H/B/F) rug (Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche IV, Munich, 1982, no.44, pp.146-7; Hali, vol.5, no.2, pl.7, p.208; The Bortz Collection, Sotheby's London, 29 May 1998, lot 13; Hali 112, September/October 2000, p.141)
3. The red starburst medallion rug formerly in the James D. Burns Collection sold in these Rooms, 18 October 2001, lot 277
4. The sunburst Kazak in the collection of the National Gallery of Prague (illustrated in 'Exhibitions in Brief', Hali 149, November 2006, p.99)
5. The Richardson sunburst medallion rug, current whereabouts unknown (Through the Collector's Eye, ; Oriental Rugs from New England Private Collections, Rhode Island, 1991, fig.4, p.18)
6. The Liambei rug, sold in these Rooms, 7 October 2010, lot 97 ('APG', Hali 167, p.157).
Whilst the present rug is unique amongst the rest of the red-ground examples, it is most closely related to the rug in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Both share a beautiful archaic border and have charming animal and bird details in the field design.