On Sunday, January 20th, Grogan and Company Fine Art Auctioneers conducted their long anticipated Fine Oriental Rugs and Carpets Auction, to a standing room only crowd including dealers, discriminating collectors and private home owners, all looking to take home a prized rug.  The auction, which included over 300 rugs and carpets achieved three quarters of a million dollars and attracted a veritable "Who's Who" of the rug world to Dedham. 

The highlight of the six-day exhibition was Saturday afternoon's Gallery Talk with James Opie, rug scholar and author of Tribal Rugs: A Complete Guide to Nomadic and Village Carpets.  A large contingency from the New England Rug Society was in attendance, as well as many other local rug collectors and home owners.   "We work hard to attract new collectors to the rug market through raising awareness and appreciation of the beauty and artistry of antique rugs and textiles," noted Michael Grogan, rug expert and President of Grogan and Company, "and the turn out for the Opie lecture was gratifying."

The top lot of the auction was a Rare 19th century Chinese RKO Rug generated a bevy of bids from the phone, internet and the floor, before it finally sold over the phone to a European bidder for $23,600, against a $10,000-20,000 pre-sale estimate.  In 1967, Charles Grant Ellis first referred to the design of these rugs as "RKO" based on how they reminded him of the sound wave pattern found in the logo of the RKO motion picture company. 

Other highlights included a late 19th century Serapi Carpet, from the collection of Aram Jerrehian, that sold to an internet bidder for $20,570 and a Rare Khampseh "Bird" Carpet from the collection of James Opie, which sold over the phone to a private collector for $18,880.   The auction room was filled with collectors and dealers alike who also found successes, such as a Lavar Kirman Palace Signature Carpet, circa 1900 which sold to a New York client for $17,700; while a Fine Silk and Wool Tehran Carpet sold for $16,250 to a Chicago client, also in the room.    "Prices were strong," commented auctioneer Michael Grogan, continuing, "however, the breadth of participation was impressive with those in attendance, and on the phone, bidding against internet and left bidders."

For more information and to view a fully illustrated catalogue with results visit www.groganco.com or call 781-461-9500.