Tabriz carpets from Northwest Persia, Aubusson carpets from France, a Mughal inspired carpet from Agra in India and a Donegal design carpet after Alexander Morton and Company will kick off Sheppards sale of carpets, rugs and runners in Durrow on February 13. Estimates for the above mentioned prizes from an auction of 115 lots range from 2,500 to 6,000. On offer is a range of floor coverings from the exotic East to the Dun Emer Guild by way of Aubusson and Donegal.
Lot 11, a Donegal carpet after the English architect, furniture and textile designer C F A Voysey, is one of a number of Donegal examples on offer and is estimated at 6,000-8,000.
The most expensively estimated Irish carpet – at 8,000-12,000 – is a late 20th century Dun Emer Guild Phoenix Design wool carpet measuring 12′ x 9′. The Dun Emer Guild was founded by Lily and Elizabeth Yeats and Evelyn Gleeson in 1902 and was influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The auction features carpets, rugs, kilims and runners from all over Persia, the southeast Caucasus and even Peking. Many of these are from locations that were far more familiar to travellers of an earlier generation than they are now. Thankfully this is beginning the change and the courtly delights of Persia are once again beginning to open up to western travellers.
A late 20th century bespoke Dun Emer Phoenix design carpet :UPDATE THIS MADE 6,600 AT HAMMER
A c1900 Heriz runner: UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER