Gray’s Auctioneers & Appraisers complete 2010 with a magnificent selection of antique Persian, Turkish, Chinese and European rugs, runners, carpets and embroidered panels at their auction on December 16.

The highlight of the auction at Lot 40, is a rare and important silver and silver-gilt thread embroidered calligraphic panel which measures 48 x 66 inches. This immensely ornate panel woven with silver-gilt thread depicts The Tomb of Mohammed, surrounded by calligraphic inscriptions which translate as "May God Shower His Blessing On Mohammed" and "There Is No God But Allah”. The outer panels are tightly woven silver thread and it is bordered with silver woven lace borders.   There is some slight thread loss and the silver is tarnished, however given its age, late 19th/early 20th century, this lot is in exceptionally good condition.

Another beautifully inscribed and embroidered lot is Lot 41, an antique Egyptian/Syrian embroidered quilt or coverlet which measures 10’x 5’6”, and which has been delicately stitched with a symbolic family inscription which reads, “take another look, you’ll find a beautiful work and it’s explanation is a long discussion”. 

Other notable lots include Lot 57 an extremely long and colorful antique Caucasian wool runner which runs to a length of 32.5ft and a width of 2.5ft. There is one antique American hook rug of note in the auction at lot 92 with a very pretty floral and leaf motif, and an unusual Scandinavian Rya Wool Rug at lot 108.  This bright, geometric design is circa 1920. 

An antique pictoral Persian Seneh wool rug, circa 1900, with a rich midnight blue ground is featured at lot 39, while lot number 73 is a striking 11'10" x w: 8'2" antique Persian Heriz wool rug.

Featuring 109 lots, this live auction will have live online bidding provided by Gray’s Live bidding and LiveAuctioneers.com, together with telephone and absentee bidding offered directly through Gray’s. The showrooms are open for preview Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.

Gray's Auctioneers & Appraisers is the only licensed, bonded and insured auction house in Cleveland holding monthly live auctions. Deborah J. Gray, auctioneer, opened her eponymous auction house in 2007 with her partner Serena Harragin, and together they have transformed the abandoned building that used to house a Citroen dealership into a driving force in the vibrant Cleveland Fine Art and Antiques auction market.

The complete illustrated catalog for this auction can be found on Gray’s web site at www.graysauctioneers.com or please request a mailed catalogue by calling 215-458-7695.