MAJOR AUTUMN SALE of 18th November 2000
Best Auction Results in Years
The major Autumn Sale of 18th November 2000 was a great success, with sales totalling in excess of DM 2.5 million, and 73% of the 202 objects offered sold. This was the best result in many years. The room was packed, and in a cheerful atmosphere it was especially items in the upper price brackets that sold effortlessly to an international audience of collectors and dealers. Moreover, the number of telephone bidders was higher than ever before.
The highest price was achieved by the late medieval "Solomon" tapestry (lot 58-A) from Mainfranken, formerly owned by the princely family of Oettingen-Wallerstein. It had been submitted after the catalogue going to print, and was published in a supplement. Bidding against heavy competition from Austria, this textile treasure was knocked down to a German collector for DM 230,000.
The second-highest price in the auction was achieved by a Brussels tapestry entitled "Europe" (lot 58) dating from around 1700, which was knocked down for DM 185,000 to a Californian dealer present in the room, after a spectacular bidding battle against several telephones.
The Paris "Artemis" tapestry offered on the Late Entry list (lot 117-A), made around 1620 in Frans van den Planken's workshop, changed hands into German private ownership for DM 55,000.
As expected, Caucasian and Turkoman collectors' pieces encountered much interest. A colourful prayer Kazak (lot 80) achieved a very respectable result, 
selling for DM 50,000; and a beautiful Kazak with Lesghi stars (lot 91) climbed from its calling price of DM 60,000 to DM 92,000. An early Marasali (lot 45) that had been estimated at a mere DM 1,000 due to its problematic condition became the object of an exciting battle between a well-known American and an Austrian collector, the latter eventually securing the piece for DM 16,000.
A rare Saryk door rug (lot 130) went to a German collection for DM 70,000.
Some remarkable results were achieved by Persian carpets. Three rare and beautiful Qashqa'i rugs (lots 64, 109 and 149) fetched DM 50,000, DM 47,000 and DM 40,000 respectively.
An early Sauj Bulag (lot 76) was acquired for DM 38,000 by an American collector present in the room.
A midnight-blue North West Persian carpet with a dot design of an abstract appearance (lot 86), formerly owned by Galerie Kailash, fetched DM 49,000.
Another former Kailash piece was a red-ground North West Persian carpet with a Talish design (lot 116); it caused a stir when knocked down for DM 135,000, doubling its estimate of DM 68,000.
Some Persian carpets from the Late Entry list also left their estimates far behind: thus a light-ground Sultanabad (lot 13-A), estimated at DM 2,500, climbed to DM 56,000 at breakneck speed;
and a decorative Tabriz (lot 87-A) fetched the substantial sum of DM 66,000 instead of the estimated DM 8,000. The latter two pieces are much sought in the US, and dealers from all over the world had travelled to Wiesbaden especially for them.
Finally, a splendid small silk Heriz (lot 108-A) was purchased by an Italian collector for DM 62,000 (estimate: DM 40,000).
Among the group of Anatolian carpets, the highest price was achieved by a 17th century Transylvanian rug, still in good condition and with an arch design (lot 113). 
A Melas prayer rug (lot 61) from Professor Belling's collection exceeded its estimate of DM 9,500, climbing to DM 21,000. Another Melas with a stripe design (lot 75) also changed hands for DM 21,000.
A monumental Bergama with a blue-green field (lot 73) was acquired by a German collector for DM 56,000, against heavy Italian competition.
Among the Central Asian silk embroideries, an 18th century Shakhrisyabz suzani, a true museum piece, stood out (lot 115); it found its way into a famous German collection for a deserved DM 80,000.
Seen as a whole, these results confirm that prices for first-class antique carpets, textiles and tapestries are increasing strongly, an inevitable result of the enormous shortage in this collecting field. Aside from some well-informed private collectors, this trend has been recognised by committed dealers, and they secured a substantial number of the best pieces in the auction.