Hand Woven Carpets
Charleston’s source a wide range of high-quality hand woven carpets created using the finest quality wool, silks, and cottons. Our carpets range in size from small scatter carpets, long runners, and large rugs big enough to fill a room. We source our hand woven carpets from traditional weavers from Iran, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tibet. These pieces are a highlight of our rug and carpet auctions, where collectors can find unique and authentic works.
Hand Made
To be considered authentic, “Persian carpets” need to be made by hand without the use of modern machinery. There are two main types of handmade rugs: knotted and flat weave. The weaving process requires great skill and is very time-consuming – a single rug can take months or even years to complete, depending on the size and intricacy of the pattern. Two basic knots are used – the symmetrical Turkish or Ghiordes knot and the asymmetrical Persian or Senneh knot. These handwoven pieces are highly sought after at our carpet auctions.
Materials
Hand woven carpets come in a variety of materials, but wool is the most common. Types of wool used include Kork wool, Manchester wool and camel hair wool. Cotton, jute, and animal hair are other materials used to make hand woven carpets. Silk carpets are less common and better suited as decorative wall hangings due to their delicate nature and higher cost. These items are often featured in our rug auctions, attracting both local and international collectors.
Patterns
Hand woven carpets come in a variety of designs, and some of the most common motifs (and their meanings) include: Parrot (safety), Peony (power), Peacock (immortality), Dog (defence), Tree of Life (Path to Heaven), Lily (Purity), Paradise Bird (Paradise), Lotus (Rebirth), Iris (Religious freedom), Blossom (Youth), Tulip (Prosperity), Pomegranate (fertility), Paisley or Boteh (Universe), Amulet (Wards against the Evil Eye), Hyacinth (regeneration), Star (Spirituality), Herati (Water Garden), Cross (faith).
History
Carpets have been woven for many centuries, and carpet weaving has been a part of Persian art and culture since ancient times. The Pazyryk Carpet is the oldest surviving hand woven carpet from Ancient Persia, dating back to the 5th century BC. Carpet weaving has been a tradition that has continued in areas that used to be a part of the old Persian empire, including Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Many of these historic styles and techniques are still celebrated and sold through our rug and carpet auctions.
Charleston’s is an official member of the Australian Auctioneers and Valuers Association and the Indigenous Art Code.
Charleston’s was formed in 1997 by a group of like-minded individuals who shared a passion for art. We also had a common belief that while art can be defined as “fine”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it should be elitist or affordable only to investment bankers and multinational corporations. By creating Australia’s first and, by far, most successful travelling art auction house, we regularly bring quality works of art to Australia’s capital cities, and we are the only auction house that travels to major regional centres.
