The Fine Rugs & Carpets Auction

Sunday, January 31, 2021

The Fine Rugs & Carpets Auction featured over 170 examples, ranging from fine city workshop rugs to rare village and tribal weavings, as well as a selection of room size decorative carpets. The centerpiece: The James Opie Collection, an offering 65 rugs from the collection of author/dealer/collector James Opie, featuring exceptional ivory field Shekarlu rugs, many Khamseh Confederacy bird rugs, two rare south Persian tiger rugs, numerous south Persian bags and bag faces (including early examples, both published and unpublished), as well as a pair of exquisitely colored Shahsavan bags. James Opie’s collection, distilled from decades of focused efforts, presented an opportunity for collectors of all levels to acquire significant pieces of impeccable provenance. Another 100 rugs surrounded the Opie collection, chief among them a rare and exemplary Salor Chuval. The brilliant red, stunning design balance and remarkably fine condition combined to create a “best of type” opportunity. The auction also included many fine Bidjar and other Persian rugs, sold to Boston area collectors by the late John Collins, as well as many fine Caucasian and Turkish collectors’ pieces.

View Results

The James Opie Collection

Lots 80-145

James Opie’s love of tribal rugs and his keen eye for quality are captured in the magical collection being offered at auction on January 31. A lifelong scholar and collector, Jim has never ceased searching for and studying the best. After five decades, he has reached a final deaccessioning point in his career, and the exemplary rugs that follow reflect the highest standards of Persian tribal rug collecting, to which Jim has so significantly contributed.

Explore the Collection

Auction Highlights

Lot 34

Exceptional Mohtasham Kashan Rug, Persia, ca. 1875

Sold: $40,625

Lot 71

Rare and Exemplary Salor Chuval, Turkestan, ca. 1800

Sold: $75,000

Lot 85

Fine and Rare Shekarlu Rug, Persia, last quarter 19th century

Sold: $28,125

Lot 80

Rare Khamseh Yellow Ground Bird Rug, Persia, ca. 1875

Sold: $17,500

Lot 58

Heriz Carpet, Persia, last quarter 19th century

Sold: $22,500

Lot 35

Fine Kirman Famous Leaders of the World Rug, Persia, last quarter 19th century

Sold: $22,500

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Additional Information

Exhibition for The Fine Rugs & Carpets Auction will be held by appointment only at our Charles Street gallery from Monday, January 18 – Saturday, January 30. Please contact the gallery  to schedule your visit.

If you would like to receive a complimentary, fully illustrated print catalogue for The Fine Rugs & Carpets Auction, please contact us.

Due to Covid-19, there will be no in-person attendance at The Fine Rugs & Carpets Auction. We invite you to participate in one of the following ways:

Bid Live Online: The auction will be live-streamed on our website so you can see and hear the auctioneer as you bid live from your computer or mobile device. In order to bid live, you will need to register for the auction. Once you have registered, you will be able to enter the live sale through the online catalogue on auction day.

Telephone Bid: We have limited telephone lines available for those who prefer not to bid online. Leave a telephone bid. 

Absentee Bid: If you are unable to participate live on sale day, you may leave absentee bids through our website. In order to leave absentee bids, you will need to register for the auction. Once you have registered, you may leave absentee bids through the online catalogue.