Serapi with Inscriptions

416 x 300 cm (13' 8" x 9' 10") Persia, late 19th century Condition: very good, low pile in places but not worn, lower end slightly incomplete, minor small repairs Inscriptions: Verses from a philosophical poem by Hafez Warp: cotton, weft: cotton, pile: wool Serapi carpets are among the most sought-after Persian hand-knotted carpets, yet it is now rare to find one of this quality. The colors, patterns, and condition are first-rate, and the inscriptions at the top and bottom add the perfect finishing touch. These inscriptions are an excerpt from a poem by the famous Persian poet Hafez, specifically Ghazal No. 45. The verses are preserved in the "Divan-e Hafez." Hafez lived in Shiraz from approximately 1315 to 1390. It is therefore reasonable to say that the poem dates from the 14th century, likely from Hafez's poetic period between the mid- and late 14th century. Unfortunately, the exact year of its composition is not recorded. Compared to earlier works, carpets from northwestern Persia of this period are expected to feature an increasingly abstract design language. In the case of our carpet, this has been achieved in a wonderful way: The design is by no means awkward, but rather distinctly well-thought-out and elegant. This is particularly beautiful to observe against the finely abraded green ground. In the dark blue, eight-pointed medallion, the weavers have chosen a somewhat more floral style, only to return to a more linear, geometric design in the light blue star medallion above it. This interplay between floral and geometric forms lends the composition a special charm. Anyone hoping to read about Serapi in Cecil Edwards' seminal work "The Persian Carpet" will initially be disappointed. Edwards writes that the term "Serape" (Sarāb) was occasionally used in America to refer to Georavan, a village near Heriz, but that it had already fallen out of use by his time. He does, however, include the town of Sarāb itself on his map of the Heriz district. Today, in the international carpet trade, the term "Serapi" is used primarily for particularly high-quality older carpets from the wider Heriz region. In our piece, nearly every motif has been meticulously outlined. Particularly noteworthy is the detailed design of the inscribed bands at the top and bottom, whose borders are further enlivened by interposed flowers. The classic border of palmettes and rosettes is rendered much more densely, thereby creating a striking contrast to the more spacious and lightly designed field. It is precisely this balanced relationship between bold geometry, delicate interior detailing, and an unusually harmonious color scheme that defines the exceptional quality of this carpet. Estimate: € 20000 - 30000 Starting bid: € 12000

Estimate:$22,496.8

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