Fine Large and Palatial Persian Nain Hand-Knotted Wool and Silk Pile Area Rug

Francesco Ballesio (Italian, 1860-1923). A fine orientalist pencil and watercolor heightened with gum Arabic on paper figure of "A Middle-Eastern Beauty at Rest" depicting a young maiden resting on a Persian rug laid down as a bed while holding a tambourine and next to a Moroccan ivory-inlaid octagonal table with a tea pot on top. Signed and inscribed 'Ballesio Roma Tivoli' (upper right). All within an ornate rococo gilt wood and gesso carved frame with a protective glass, Rome, circa 1890-1900, Frame height: 23 inches (58.4 cm). Frame width: 30 1/2 inches (30.5 cm). Frame depth: 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm). Paper height: 15 inches (38.1 cm). Paper width: 21 1/2 inches (54.7 cm). Literature: A similar subject matter watercolor is catalogued and illustrated in Caroline Juler, "Les Orientalistes...

A superb quality palatial French Louis XVI style ormolu mounted, satinwood, kingwood parquetry and Vernis Martin style paneling three-door raised Vitrine Display Cabinet attributed to Paul Sormani (1817-1877). A Vernis Martin Panel signed "V. Gossen." The lower part of the cabinet with three frieze drawers supported by two square-sectioned on tapered legs, fronting an ormolu mounted parquetry back panel, on toupie feet. The ormolu stamped with the initials "P.S." on the reverse. Circa: Paris, 1870. Height: 101 inches (256.5 cm). Width: 56 inches (142.2 cm). Depth: 20 inches (50.8 cm). Sormani, Paul (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...

Raimundo De Madrazo y Garreta (Spanish School, 1841-1920) an exceptional and palatial oil on canvas "Portrait of Isabelle McCreery” depicting an elegant woman gracefully exiting a litter (Sedan Chair), situated within a lovely fairytale setting of a fantastical vista dominated by verdant and blue-green hues, a pair of swans and a lily pad frame the scene in the foreground, within it's original impressive and ornate French 19th Century Rococo Style gildwood carved and gesso frame. Signed and dated ‘R. Madrazo, 1880' (lower left). At the bottom center of the impressive frame there is a gilded, wooden cartouch bearing in italicized script “Portrait of Isabelle McCreery.” This is original to the frame. Sometime after the death of the artist, possibly at the time the painting was given to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the painter’s name was added in block letters. Provenance: The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (Donated by Mrs. Richard McCreery in 1950). M.H. de Young Memorial Fine Arts Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Christie's New York, 31 December 1969, Sale Property of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Sold for the Benefit of Museum Acquisitions Funds. Lot 80A for $20,700 Canvas Height: 104 ¾ inches (266.1 cm). Canvas Width: 68 ½ inches (174 cm). Frame Height: 132 inches (335.3 cm). Frame Width: 87 ½ inches (222.3 cm). The work of Raimundo de Madrazo, an artist who lived in Paris the greater part of his life, is among the most representative and influential of the ‘school’ of Spanish painters resident in Paris during the nineteenth century.” (Carlos González and Montse Martí, Spanish Painters in Paris 1850-1900, London, 1989, p. 53). The wonderful imagination and artistic genius of Madrazo y Garreta established his fine reputation, and created an international demand for his exquisite portraiture. This particular work features an elegant woman who gracefully exits a litter, situated within a lovely fairytale setting of a fantastical vista dominated by verdant and blue-green hues. Isabelle McCreery was a member of the noted Gold Rush pioneer McCreery family of Irish background who settled in San Francisco in the mid nineteenth century. She later lived in Burlingame, an early San Francisco...

Gordon B. Coutts (Scottish/American, 1868-1937) A very fine and large orientalist oil on canvas titled "Ashura Rituals, Tangier" (Arabic: عاشوراء‎ ʻĀshūrā’ - Urdu: عاشورا‎ - Persian: عاشورا‎ - Turkish: Aşure Günü). Signed and inscribed: 'Gordon Coutts/TANGIER' (lower right), circa 1920. Provenance: The Fisher Art Museum, University of Southern California. Gordon Coutts led a peripatetic career, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he then studied and travelled to Glasgow, London, Paris and Rome before settling in Melbourne, Australia in 1891. In 1896 he moved to Sydney, where he taught at the Art Society of New South Wales, before returning back to Europe in 1899. With the climate of northern Europe detrimental to Coutts' poor health, he moved with his wife, Alice Grey, to the United States where he became a frequent exhibitor at the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. In 1920 he travelled to Tangiers, Morocco where, dressed as an Arab, he passed from tribe to tribe observing the lifestyle, customs and practices of the the village people and Bedouins. The present work depicts the celebration of Ashura. The day of Ashura is commemorated by Shi'ite Muslims; "A day of pain, pilgrimage and pageantry, it is one of the holiest in their religion. The word Ashura means 10, and refers to the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. This is a period of mourning and cleansing, which marks the martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad...

Sultanabad is a region in NW, Persia. It was the site of the principle Ziegler weavings in the late 19th century. Sultanabad's are famous for their floral designs as they improved th...

Antique Serapi carpets are one of the most sought after rugs particularly in America and England for many years. Antique Serapi rugs are a major draw particularly in big city America...

Antique Serapi carpets are one of the most sought after rugs particularly in America and England for many years. Antique Serapi rugs are a major draw particularly in big city America...

Sultanabad is a region in NW, Persia. It was the site of the principle Ziegler weavings in the late 19th century. Sultanabad's are famous for their floral designs as they improved th...