As of September, Dorotheum offers a completely new category: antique Oriental carpets, textiles, and tapestries. Such auctions will take place once or twice a year, the first one on 14^thSeptember 2010. 

„Vienna, as a 'gateway to the East' is ideally situated. Austria and the neighbouring countries still harbour many interesting, privately owned carpets that need to be discovered and traded." in the words of Wolfgang Matschek, the resident Dorotheum carpet expert. As old and antique carpets and fabrics regularly achieve high sales prices Dorotheum now offers a marketplace for such prime items. 

For this first carpet auction, Wolfgang Matschek - who joined Dorotheum in 2010 after acquiring extensive professional experience with Adil Besim, Udo Langauer, Oritop, and elsewhere - has assembled approximately 200 high quality carpets and textiles. 

The primary focus of the first carpet auction rests on an exceptional private collection of Caucasus carpets. These items come up for auction unpublished, unrestored, and unworn by market exposure: geometrical carpets, distinguished by their original, archaic, and highly colourful character. They include a large Talish from the Southeastern Caucasus Region, measuring ca. 2m x 1m, a very rare, early carpet with a red backing from the first half of the 19th century (€ 9.000 - 12.000). One of the auction's most important pieces is a ca 2m x 1,5m village carpet (Karatchoph) from the Southwest Caucasus. Estimated at 15.000 to 20.000 Euro, this carpet is in excellent condition and dates to the middle of the 19th century. 

Forming a special collection category, carpet- and kilim fragments attached to a linen backing are meant to be hung on the wall like paintings. With an opening bid of just 1.500 Euro, one can join the competition for a fine piece of textile that demonstrates the art of knotting in its many-coloured facets. Published by M. Kirdök, in 1991, the book „Fetzen“ describes exceptional items of this kind that went to famous collections. For the upcoming auction, Wolfgang Matschek was also able to acquire one of the items pictured in the above book, a Gaschgai kilim, dating to the early 19th century (€ 6.000 - 7.000).

Auction:
Oriental Carpets, Textiles, and Tapestries, 14. September 2010

Public Viewing:
from 2. September 2010

Expert:
Vincent Pillinger, Tel. + 43-1.515 60-314, vincent.pillinger@dorotheum.at

Venue:
PALAIS DOROTHEUM, Wien 1, Dorotheergasse 17

Press Office:
Mag. Doris Krumpl, Tel. + 43-1-515 60-406, doris.krumpl@dorotheum.at