OAKLAND, Calif.–()–Jan
David Winitz, an eminent art dealer who specializes in 19th
century antique Oriental rugs, today announced the acquisition of a
globally significant private collection that had been assembled and held
by a New England-based family over four generations.
“The family began collecting in the late 1800s and were among the first
generation of serious American Oriental rug collectors”
Winitz, the president and founder of Claremont
Rug Company, said, “The Bostonian Collection includes a total of 35
antique Persian rugs woven 1800 to 1850 and 15 highly sought after
undyed camel hair rugs dating back to ca 1830. Additional highlights of
the 180-carpet trove are early to mid-19th century examples of
art/investment level Persian Motasham Kashan, Laver Kirman and
Kermanshah rugs.”
The Gallery will mount an exhibition, starting July 20, of “The
Bostonian.” It will be the first time that any of the rugs will have
been seen outside the family since they were originally acquired. Some
of these Oriental carpets have been in storage since their purchase in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“The family began collecting in the late 1800s and were among the first
generation of serious American Oriental rug collectors,” said Winitz,
who is also the author of The Guide to Purchasing an Oriental Rug. “Two
generations added to the inventory, which was displayed at their six
family residences.
“The first generation acquired exquisite floral Persian carpets that are
among the most rare pieces of this type that I have seen in decades,” he
said. “The second generation had more casual taste and, looking to
connoisseurship, began adding Persian
village rugs such as Bakshaish, Serapi, Sultanabad, Bijar and undyed
camel hairs. They were well ahead of their time to be interested in
these weaving groups.”
Winitz said that the third generation spent considerable time in the
Near East on business and amassed a collection of tribal and village
Oriental rugs, many bought on site. Highlights of their acquisitions
include a group of antique Caucasian rugs of great artistic merit from
the mid-19th century. “While there are many later and inferior rugs from
the Caucasus Mountains on the market today, these are among the most
rare to come to market in decades and will be highly sought-after by
collectors,” said Winitz.
The other collections that Winitz compared with the “The Bostonian” are
the 400-rug “Hudson River Valley Collection” (2009) and the
“Intercontinental Collection” (2010). Those collections drew renewed
attention to rugs from the Second Golden Age of Persian Weaving (ca 1800
to ca 1900).
Winitz founded the Gallery in 1980 and has since built an inventory
comprised of more than 4000 rare
Oriental carpets that are valued in the range of $20,000 to more
than $500,000 per rug. To aid clients, the Gallery has more than 1000
antique rugs available for viewing and an extensive educational section
on its website (www.claremontrug.com).
All of the Oriental rugs at Claremont have been acquired privately. The
Gallery neither participates in outside exhibitions, art fairs nor
auctions.
Additional information about the “Bostonian Collection” event may be
obtained from the Gallery (1-800-441-1332).
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50334803lang=en
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