Northeast Persia (Iran), c. 638 x 246 cm, dated 1808; this piece belongs to the rare group of oversized harshang design carpets with inscription cartouches and is the oldest of its kind. The date (1223 AH) in Arabic numerals according to the Islamic calendar is found in the second dark panel to the upper right. The carpet features a total of twelve cartouches, which contain poetic inscriptions in Farsi, the Iranian language. This item has been published in Arthur Upham Pope’ magazine, “Survey of Persian Art”, as belonging to Bernheimer. The illustration still shows it in its unrestored condition (image upside-down, with wrong length: 651 x 248.5 cm). Today, this piece is preserved in professionally restored condition, with a few unobtrusive repiled sections and partly low pile. Both yellow border ends have been filled in in one half and provided with new fringes. The long sides are trimmed short with new selvedges. On the back of the right corner is an old linen label with the printed inscription “5145 L. Bernheimer München”.

Provenance:
formerly Bernheimer Collection; today Private Collection, Germany

Further reading:
Arthur Upham Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938, pl. 1272A; Konrad O. Bernheimer, Narwalzahn und Alte Meister.

The Bernheimers: a dynasty of art dealers and collectors
The Bernheimer family company was established in 1864 in Munich, soon becoming a purveyor of valuable antiques to royal and princely families as well as wealthy industrialists. The family has had an eventful history, marked by their expropriation in the Weimar years, a new beginning in Venezuela, followed by their return to Germany and the acquisition of a branch in London. Konrad Otto Bernheimer (born in Venezuela on 30.08.1950) has taken over the family business and lives in London today. He is regarded as one of the most influential European art collectors.

Arthur Upham Pope (07.02.1881 - 03.09.1969):
The American expert on Iranian art and carpet lover was also known as the publisher of the journal “Survey of Persian Art” and acted as an advisor to the most important American museums. In Iran, Pope was commissioned by Shah Reza Pahlavi to explore the country with all its sights, buildings and mosques. Pope spent the last years of his life in Iran and was buried in a mausoleum in Isfahan.