Bidspirit auction | Persian Ziegler Sultanabad Palace Carpet

Persian Ziegler Sultanabad Palace Carpet 28'x13'9” - Central Persian Ziegler Sultanabad palace-size wool rug, ca. 1880. The hand-knotted carpet with field populated by a central row of elongated floral quatrefoils with lotus palmette medallions. Flanked along either side by rows of camels alternating with peony rosettes. Executed in a palette of rust red, varying shades of blue, sand tan, and cream on an abrash, striated navy blue ground set within a vining botanical border and segmented by angled arabesque forms. The main border surrounded by three layered guard borders along the perimeter. With fringe along the upper and lower edges. Provenance: A manor home known as ”The Lodge, ” Holyport, Berkshire, England; Dildarian, Inc., New York; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Lot Essay: Recognizing a burgeoning Western demand for luxury Persian decorative arts, the Anglo-Swiss firm Ziegler & Co., operating out of Manchester, established a highly organized manufacturing enterprise in the Sultanabad district (modern Arak) during the mid-19th century. Rather than adhering to the dense, intricately knotted domestic styles of traditional Persian weaving, Ziegler adapted production in their workshops to meet European architectural demands and in doing so, pioneered a new style of carpet tailored to grand Western interiors, accommodating soaring ceilings and expansive drawing rooms of Victorian estates. Designers working with Ziegler modified classical Safavid court motifs, scaling the symmetry, floral geometry, and botanical forms to result in spacious, fluid, and uncluttered compositions that highlighted oversized palmettes, sweeping vines, and sinuous scrollwork. The monumental proportions and large motifs of the carpet featured in this lot reflect this pivotal convergence of scale, tradition, and innovation. Length: 28 ft x width: 13 ft 9 in. Condition: Along one third of the rug, there is a small hole and tear, which measures approximately 3 inches. There are scattered areas of restoration and repair. Wear and slight unevenness to the pile along the margins and extreme edges of the rug. Scattered areas of uneven toning. No signs of insect activity present. No major stains. Wear to the fringe, including toning and small losses.