IMPORTANT ZIEGLER SULTANABAD RUG, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

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Late 19th Century Persian Ziegler Sultanabad Rug

Late 19th Century Persian Sultanabad Ziegler Rug

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IMPORTANT ZIEGLER SULTANABAD RUG, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

About the Item

Important Ziegler Sultanabad Rug, Last Quarter 19th Century, stylized flowers in rust, celery green and blue on an ivory ground enclosed within a rust border with cypress trees. Acquired by Lord Iveagh for Elveden Hall, with the original inventory label “Purchased from Harvey Nichols 1896” attached. Sold by Dildarian in 1992.

Copies of original invoice to purchaser.

Zieglers are among the most sought-after antique carpets in today’s market. Their gracious size, subtle color combinations, and uncluttered patterns make them appealingly adaptable to room settings of varied décor. These fashionable carpets were produced in Persia by the Manchester, England–based Anglo-Swiss firm of Ziegler & Company from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries.

Ziegler established their offices and workshops in the town of Sultanabad; their economic presence became so great that the town was known as “Fort Ziegler.” The company used ready-dyed wools, large looms to achieve the required sizes for Western homes, and perhaps most importantly, offered a regular wage to locals, thereby attracting thousands of weavers to man their looms.

Influenced by the principles of Western architectural proportion and room settings, Ziegler carpets were made to achieve a balance and symmetry in keeping with the scale of a room and its furnishings. Carpets woven in the Ziegler workshops featured central medallions or all-over pattern repeats. The latter designs integrated the classic “Shah Abbas” and “Vase” decoration of larger-than-life stylized blossoms and palmettes, suggesting a fantastic garden. Never overcrowded, these patterns give a sense of open space and elegance. This design scheme varied from the traditional Persian court carpets, which incorporated a profusion of intricate and elaborate floral patterns. The airy visual effect of Ziegler carpets resulted from the design as well as from a weave that was much coarser than that of traditional carpets. The pile was also left higher so it would be soft to the touch, creating a feeling of both visual and physical warmth. Also, fewer color combinations were used, resulting in a simpler balance and harmony; the color green was liberally incorporated, perhaps to echo the English fondness for the countryside.

Perhaps the finest single collection of Ziegler carpets to come on the market was that formed by Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, (Baron Iveagh), for Elveden Hall, which he purchased in 1894. In preparation for a royal visit from the Prince of Wales, Guinness furnished the house with the latest in fashionable décor. When the contents of Elveden were offered for sale in 1984, included among the carpets were twenty-three Ziegler Sultanabads, which were mainly purchased from Liberty & Company and Harvey Nichols. All were superb examples in original condition, with the added attraction of having soft, pale colors, a desirable criterion for interior decorators. Though miscatalogued as Turkish Oushak carpets and moderately estimated between £400 and £2,000, on the day of the sale they repeatedly fetched over £35,000. All the major examples sold to the trade. Since this sale, there has been no single collection that compares in the combination of quality and quantity. (Arto Keshishian)

Dimensions:
Width: 156 in (396.24 cm)Length: 189.5 in (481.33 cm)
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
Condition:
Seller Location:
valatie, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: U080517846325