'The Dardashti Collection' Auction, Material Culture, 24 October 2022

[View this email in your browser]( Live Showroom Auction: Monday October 24, 2022, 11am ET Public Exhibition: October 20–23, 11am–4pm Reception and Refreshments: October 23, 12pm–4pm [Browse the Catalogue and Register for Online Live Bidding]( Material Culture will offer one of America’s finest collections of decorative antique oriental carpets on 24 October 2022, when it will place 'The Dardashti Collection' up for auction. Yadid Dardashti’s reputation as a 'dealer’s dealer' has been well-known in the trade for decades. High standards and a good eye, along with a willingness to 'pay the price', are all hallmarks of a successful trader. What distinguishes this collection however, is the great condition of so many of the carpets– a fact made all the more remarkable since the majority of the 241 lots on offer are room-sized and mansion-sized. This auction does not offer the over-fixed, touched-up rugs that a century or more of hard use can produce, but an abundance of gorgeous carpets that generations of owners clearly must have respected and taken care of. A highlight among many beauties in the collection is lot 84 (above left), one of the finest Serapi carpets to appear at auction in recent years, with twelve poetic calligraphic inscriptions running along both sides of the interior field, and another inscription at the apex which reads 'By Order of Sheikh Janaghi' (late 19th c., 14’10” x 25’1”, start price $15,000). Another standout piece is lot 83 (above right), a beautifully crafted Bakhtiari carpet (17’8” x 31’3”, start price $10,000) with an inscription that reads: 'By order of his excellency Najaf-Qoli Khan Samsam al-Saltane, woven by the Bakhtiari, 1321 (ca. 1913).' Najaf-Qoli Khan Samsam al-Saltane (1846-1930) was elected as the 11th Prime Minister of Iran for two terms, first in 1909 and again in 1912. Lovers of Serapi/Heriz/Bakshaish weavings will find many to admire among the 53 on offer, including lot 50 (above left), a classic 'animal skin' Bakshaish on a camel field (ca. 1880, 11’9” x 17’7”, start price $10,000), as well as lot 74 (above right), a boisterous and richly saturated Serapi carpet (ca. 1875, 11’1” x 14’4”, start price $5000). The sale also includes many decorative classics such as: Zeigler Sultanabad, Mahal, Ferahan, Sarouk Ferahan, Hadji Jalili Tabriz, Lavar Kerman, Bidjar, Mohtashem Kashan, West Persian Kurd, Oushak, Nichols Art Deco, Agra and more. Material Culture founder, George Jevremovic, recalls meeting Dardashti in the early 1980s, 'when it was well known that Yadid would go the extra distance to acquire the best examples of rugs for the American and European markets.' He points out that this auction presents a great buying opportunity for the public, adding that 'all acceptable bidding commences at the online start price, there are no hidden or confidential reserves.' HALI readers and the public are invited to a catered exhibition reception at Material Culture, Philadelphia, on October 23, 12–4pm. [Find out more about the upcoming auction.]( We are in the process of revising our privacy policy. If you would like to unsubscribe click [here](. [Follow Us] [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [Been forwarded this email and want to receive it regularly? Subscribe to this newsletter]( Copyright © 2022 Hali Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website, or are a HALI customer. The attributions and valuations expressed by gallerists and auctioneers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Hali Publications. Our mailing address is: Hali Publications Ltd 6 Sylvester PathLondon, England E8 1EN United Kingdom [Add us to your address book]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences](