Sotheby's May 19, 1984. New York, Lot 202:

"EXTREMELY FINE AND IMPORTANT silk HERIZ CARPET, Northwestern Persia

circa 1875. Approximately 10 feet 3 inches (3.13 m.) x 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m.)

Placed in the center of the carpet, a palmette inscription cartouche reads "Work of SABBAGH". The primary border is inscribed with Dibeit poetry, potentally attributable to Hafiz. Hafiz, a Persian court poet of the 13th century, witnessed both the extraordinary court patronage that fostered indeed generated superb art, as well as the destruction of his court support through military defeat. Arther Urbane Dilley (oriental rugs and Carpets, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1931, page 89) characteriszes the situation as follows:

'The Persian in his dust-heap, balked of his ambition, created great art. It is the old story of talent, aspiration and accomplishement travelling the world together. The intricate, fraceful design of the Persian Rug is the visible labyrinth of the versatile, subtle, contemplative, speculative mind which essayed to unravel a knot from the skein of the universe, and made the tangle worse.'

The present poem of humility may be translated as follows:

'I have said many times and I will say again that I do not travel this road in control of my own destiny. Behind the mirror (in secrecy or beyond my control) I have adopted the character of a parrot (or mimic). Whatever the Master of Creation says I will repeat.'"

Estimate: $200,000 / 300,000

SOLD: $165,000 including 10% buyer premium

http://www.rugrag.com/post/Lot-202-Extremely-Fine-and-Important-Silk-Heriz-Carpet.aspx