Such was the case with this antique ‘Bakshis’ carpet, right, the madder field designed with medallions and branched vines in a border of mid-blue rosettes and pink
meanders, consigned to Shapes’
(15 per cent premium) sale outside Edinburgh on April 27 with a broadly hedged estimate of £2500-4000.
Measuring 17ft 3in by 13ft (5.25 x 3.97m) and in “fair overall condition”, with minor losses to the border, some low areas, small holes and stitched patches, the carpet sold overseas to a telephone bidder of undisclosed nationality at £11,200.
Nothing else in the sale came close to the carpet in terms of price, but there was a “good response to brown furniture”, said auctioneer Paul Howard.
The best seller was a George III mahogany chest-on-chest, a standard example with a dentil cornice and two short, six long graduated and cockbeaded drawers, brushing slide and blind fret angles, 3ft 10in (1.17m) wide, which made £3200.
Rug rings up £11,200 bonus
A BONUS of the bona fide house clearance is the family rug – usually in a dishevelled condition but market-fresh, which surprises auctioneer and local trade alike by taking the top price of a sale from a mysterious overseas buyer.
