CLEVELAND – Laying a proper foundation is the key to a successful room design, and that means starting with a carpet or rug that creates a complementary environment for the furniture, paintings and decorative art to follow. Without question, fine examples of antique and vintage floor coverings may be found at auction – specifically, this Thursday, July 15 at Gray’s Auctioneers. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

Gray’s will be offering 125 lots of antique Persian, Turkish, Chinese and Navajo rugs, carpets and runners in a variety of sizes, materials and styles.

Notable lots include Lot No. 41, an antique Persian Mahal wool rug measuring 12’9” by 9’ and estimated at $5,000–$7,000; Lot No. 122, an early 20^th-century Navajo Indian wool Rug measuring 7’11” by 6’ 3” and estimated conservatively at $300-$500; and Lot No. 101, an Antique Tibetan wool saddlebag measuring 2’2” x 4’2” and estimated at $800–$1,200. Lot 104 is an unusual antique Chaberd Kazak Caucasian wool rug on a blue background, measuring 5’3” by 9’3” and estimated at $4,000–$4,500.

Lot 82, an antique Turkoman Yumod bordered wool rug measuring 7 ft. by 11 ft. features a criss-cross diamond-shape pattern utilizing an attractive palette of reds with accents of blue, tan, black and off white. It is estimated at $4,000-$4,500.

The auction also features several antique silk pictorial rugs that would have been hung rather than laid on the floor, as well as several magnificent runners ranging in length from 6 to 16 feet. One example is Lot No. 99, an antique Northwest Persian camel hair runner that measures 13’10” by 3’1” and is estimated at $4,000-$4,500.

Also to be auctioned are several Turkish and Persian prayer rugs, with an important lot being a family-size antique Turkish Ghiordes wool prayer rug, 5’11 by 4’ and estimated at $2,000-$2,500.

This is the second such auction held by Gray’s, who expect to hold four specialty auctions per year featuring antique rugs, runners and carpets. Each of Gray’s auctions is publicized extensively and features online bidding through LiveAuctioneers.

For additional information on any lot in the July 15 auction, contact Serena Harragin at 216-458-7695, ext. 101.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE