HALI NEWSLETTER No. 429

[View this email in your browser]( The Decorative Fair in Battersea, London, taking place from 3–8 October 2023, never fails to bring forth unexpected treasures for textile lovers. From bold Asafo flags to intricate oriental embroideries, period Fortuny lengths and early verdure tapestries, plus a wide selection of rugs, tribal weavings and kilims, the Fair is renowned for offering not only practical decorative pieces but also wonderful surprises for collectors. At the Spring Fair earlier this year, various notable sales included a very rare example of 18th century Italian silver bead and crewel work, a large 17th century Aubusson landscape tapestry, a 17th century Spanish armorial tapestry and a rare example of a 19th century Indian chintz textile which turned up as the upholstery on an extremely fine late 18th century Venetian settee – all of which were shown by furniture and mixed stock dealers, not textile specialists. A highlight coming to the Autumn Fair is a rug made to a design by Hilma af Klint (recently the subject of an exhibition at Tate Modern). Produced as a limited edition of 30 by Asplund in India for the Hilma af Klint Foundation in 2019, the rug is is numbered 19/30. It is offered by art dealers WSJ Gallery. Regular textile specialists taking part in the Autumn Fair include: Owen Parry Rugs, Gallery Yacou, Joshua Lumley, Rhona Valentine, Katharine Pole, Tribal Art & Textiles, Charlotte Casedejus, Su Mason, Bleu Anglais, Galerie Arabesque, The Swedish Rug Company and Clive Rogers Oriental Rugs. But keep your eyes peeled - you never know what might be discovered at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair. Image: Rug made to a design by Hilma af Klint (WSJ Gallery) [Find out more.]( [News] The New England Rug Society's fourth season of webinars will open with 'The Afshar: Masters of Colour' with Robert Bell, taking place tomorrow, 23 September 2023 at 1pm ET, 6pm GMT. This presentation will document 'the diversity of Afshar weavings, distinctive design elements, the profusion of colour in their designs as well as patterns, symbols and weaving skills'. Robert Bell will share selections from his own and other collections, along with a history of the Afshar, a Turkic Oghuz tribe that primarily inhabits the Kerman region of modern-day Iran. HALI profiled Bell and his collection in 'A Living Collection,' [HALI 199]( Spring 2019. Shown above is an Afshar rug, Kerman area, early 19th century. [Register to join.]( Mirco Cattai is pleased to announce its participation in Art + Collectibles in Rome, the new antiques exhibition organised by the Association of Antique Dealers of Italy, with the patronage of the Ministry of Culture. It will be held at Palazzo Brancaccio, Rome from 28 September–2 October 2023. A particular highlight that will be displayed by the gallery is a Kuba rug shown above, acquired by Otto Bernheimer in 1909 and sold as part of The Bernheimer Family Collection of Carpets at Christie's London in 1996. Published in the catalogue of the Textile Museum exhibition of 1975, were three related pieces (C.G. Ellis, Early Caucasian Rugs, Washington D.C., 1975, nos. 15-17). Each of these has a central column of rayed palmettes and panels flanked by lanceolate leaves. [Find out more.]( [News] Booking is now open for the upcoming HALI Tour, 'Decorative Arts of Iberia', taking place from 8–20 April 2024 in Spain and Portugal. The tour takes a journey from the glimmering tiles of the Manueline Gothic of Portugal to the restrained honey sandstone of Castile and the austerity of the Escorial’s cold granite walls. From the Gulbenkian to the Prado we visit some of the greatest museums in the world. As with all HALI Tours, our encounters with rugs and textiles will form a running thread throughout the exploration of the region, with fascinating themes relating to the history of art, culture and cuisine of the Iberian Peninsular introduced by expert lecturers and curators en route. What sets The Decorative Arts of Iberia apart is its focus on works that should be far better known. From majolica to Meissen, from the greatest Gothic tapestries to the great gazelle vases manufactured for the Nasrid Alhambra, the programme offers a cornucopia of treasures that is the envy of the world. Book now to avoid disappointment. Image: ‘Sanguszko’ medallion carpet, Kerman region, south-central Iran, ca. 1550-1575. Instituto de Valencia de Don Juan, Madrid. [Book this tour.]( [Follow Us] [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [Been forwarded this email and want to receive it regularly? Subscribe to this newsletter]( Copyright © 2023, Hali Publications Ltd., All rights reserved. [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences](