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THE HANS KÖNIG COLLECTIONOF EAST TURKESTAN RUGSHans was for many decades a wonderful advocate for the world of oriental carpets, a subject on which he wrote a considerable number of articles, his earliest printed in 1969, his most recent in 2015. Greater than that however, was his interest in people, reflected in his wide acquaintance, and his deep enthusiasm for all things that gave him pleasure. One of the most important of these was carpets, a field for which he was a natural ambassador. His son, Stefan’s, earliest memories recall the labour-intensive exercise of rotating the carpets in the family home where he was, as the eldest child, expected to help. Gradually his initial reluctance was replaced with a greater appreciation and knowledge due to his father’s naturally contagious enthusiasm. After his initial chance purchase at auction, Hans was introduced to the field by that great enthusiast dealer, Ulrich Schürmann. With time, his buying increased, as did his acquaintanceship in the field; he came to be close friends with Michael Franses and Jon Thompson in London, with H. McCoy Jones and Thomas Farnham in the US, among many others. Hans was a man who did not just talk enthusiastically; he made things happen. Working with Michael Franses in 2005, he helped curate the ground-breaking exhibition of Chinese Rugs, Glanz der Himmelssöhne, at the Museum for East Asian Art in Cologne. Similarly, believing that the Berlin Museum of Islamic Art did not have a strong enough presence outside Germany, he set up a group of “ambassadors” whom he believed could bring their various skills and contacts into play to help the museum. Hans’ enthusiasm and personality made him an excellent choice as the European figurehead for the recently formed TEFAF fair in Maastricht in the 1990s, shortly after he had retired from business. While his interest in collecting initially lay in oriental rugs, his benignly formal manner concealed a mind that was interested in so many varied aspects of art. A work of art had principally to be aesthetic; it had to appeal to him personally. This led to a wonderfully eclectic interior. A 5th century B.C. Greek sculpture might be placed in apposition to an early 20th century work on a table top; a Gothic panel next door to a tapestry or a Khmer figure. With carpets, while his interest was greatly focused on the East Turkestan region, he would equally appreciate an exquisite Persian city rug or an elegant early Caucasian runner. Each of the rugs from the following group are a personal reflection of Han’s taste. While evidently some were chosen due to their rarity, others were more an aesthetic choice led by a particularly glorious colour scheme or a single iconic design motif. As a group, they continue the line of great German collections in this area, with one example purchased directly from the widow of the first advocate of this field: Hans Bidder. It thus gives me great pleasure, both professionally and personally, that we at Christie’s have been asked to present this selection of Hans’ rugs.William RobinsonEAST TURKESTAN RUGS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE HANS KÖNIG (LOTS 280-296)

A KHOTAN RUG

TARIM BASIN, EAST TURKESTAN, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A KHOTAN RUG
TARIM BASIN, EAST TURKESTAN, LATE 18TH CENTURY
Minor spots of wear, scattered repairs, selvages rebound, one end rewoven along far outer guard stripe
7ft.5in. x 3ft.8in. (227cm. x 112cm.)

Literature

U. Schürmann, Teppiche aus dem Orient, Wiesbaden, 1979, pl.229
M. Volkmann, Alte Orientteppiche, Munich, 1985, pp.240-1, pl.105

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction. This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Sale room notice

Please note that the following lots through to and inclusive of Lot 382, unless collected before 5pm on the day of the sale, will be removed to offsite storage at Cadogan Tate and not Christie’s warehouse as stated in the catalogue. Both sites are located in Park Royal.

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Lot Essay

The pomegranate lattice, with its small three pointed leaves laden with fruit, is most commonly depicted as emanating from a vase at either end of the field in both directions. Unusually, the present rug displays the pomegranates ascending in one direction, issuing from a single vase at one end. For a comparable yellow ground, single red stemmed Khotan rug, in a stylised fret-work border, see Hans Bidder, Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Washington D.C., 1979, p.51, pl.III, and another paler yellow ground, single vase, Yarkand rug, illustrated by Davide Halevim, Oasi, Memorie e Fascino del Turkestan Orientale, pl.3.

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