sprice@hsc.vcu.edu
Dear Friends, This is another "big one that got away".  It's a Talish prayer rug sold at
Skinner's in 1992. Beautifully drawn, in full pile, with wool of terrific
tactile quality, marvelous colors, plausibly attributed to the mid-19th
century. It was estimated at $7,000-$9,000. My wife and I shared heavy
lust for it. And, to our astonishment, we seemed to have it at $6,000.
That is, the hammer was on the way down and the auctioneeer's lips were
forming the word "sold" as he pointed to us. Then, from nowhere, another
bidder raised his paddle. He took it home, as I recall, for $9,900. And,
like all the good ones that get away, in my mind it improves with every
passing year. Steve Price |