The collection of the late Simon Crosby was formed from the very early 1970s and comprised almost entirely of Turkmen carpets (at that time transliterated as Turkoman carpets). The collection draws on all of the major tribal groups within the Turkmen nation but was particularly rich in the carpets and rugs of the Ersari tribal group and those of the peoples of the Amu Darya in western Uzbekistan and latterly northern Afghanistan.

Simon Crosby was not only in the vanguard of Turkmen carpet collectors but also a publisher on that subject. In 1973 he famously reprinted a limited edition of the English version of A.A. Bogolyubov's 1908/9 book Carpets of Central Asia edited by, and with additional comments from, the renowned scholar Dr. Jon Thompson.

A section of his carpet collection, comprised of his first love Ersari and what is known as Beshir carpets, has been donated to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford whilst a part of the remainder is offered for auction here.

AUCTION DATE
Thursday 21 November | 10.30am
This is an online auction with an auctioneer. Online bidding is available via dreweatts.com and the-saleroom.com. For more bidding information, please click here.

VIEWING:
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE
Friday 15 November: 10am-4pm
Sunday 17 November: 10am-2pm
Monday 18 November: 9am-5.30pm
Tuesday 19 November: 9am-4.30pm
Wednesday 20 November: 8.30am-5pm

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