Claremont Rug Company Offers "Epic Purchase" of Art-Level Oriental Carpets in Major Gallery Event.

150 Pieces Acquired from Three-Generation Collection Include Rare Rugs 19(th) Century Rugs Woven in Persia, The Caucasus and Turkey

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jan David Winitz, founder and president of Claremont Rug Company, today announced that 150 art-level 19th century Oriental rugs from a privately-acquired collection would be available for purchase, starting on Saturday, September 12, at the Gallery.

The collection, entitled "Artistic Visions of the Refined to the Elemental: A Momentous New Collection of Antique Carpets," will be available for viewing on line (www.claremontrug.com) starting today.

Winitz, who founded Claremont Rug Company in 1980, said, "This is an epic purchase. The collection was started at the turn of the 20th century, when the availability of rare, early rugs was infinitely greater than it is today. Some of the oldest, most precious pieces were purchased at the source in Persia, the Caucasus and Turkey."

The collection was acquired from the third generation of the family of an entrepreneur who retired at a young age and spent the last 30 years of his life traveling and acquiring art-level rugs, according to the family.

The rugs, acquired over eight decades, most recently furnished the family's significant Manhattan apartment, its major Long Island (NY) estate and its Cape Cod compound.

Highlights of the collection include:

* Rare area-size (3x5-5x8) Caucasian and other tribal rugs

* Folkloric room size carpets including Bakshaish and Serapi

* 125-180 year-old Court and town rugs, such as Hadji Jallili Tabriz, Ferahan Sarouk and Laver Kirman

"Any well-preserved 19th century rug is rare," said Winitz, "But those of connoisseur to museum quality are the rarest of the rare. Less than one percent of all the rugs produced in the 19th century were of this magnitude and very few survive today."

Winitz said he had been approached by the current generation of the family, who held the rugs for two decades. "The collection was offered to us exclusively. It contains many pieces that are true gems, including extraordinary examples from most of the major weaving styles. It is a privilege to be able to present this rich treasury to our clients."

The collection was recently featured in the Antiques column of the New York Times (Sept. 4, 2009).

A wide selection of the pieces will be displayed throughout Claremont's three-showroom gallery, which was recognized by The Robb Report 2009 "Best of the Best" as one of the top three art and antique galleries in the United States and the only rug purveyor in the listing.

Winitz, who maintains a substantial private collection of his own, said, "We maintain a strict policy of offering to our clients all the rugs that we acquire through the corporation. If that wasn't the case, I would be tempted to add many of the rugs from this purchase to my own collection.

"A number of these rugs have been off the market for a century. The Hudson River Valley Collection, which we acquired in 2008, and this new cache are two of the most significant private inventories we have encountered in our nearly 30 years of business."

The rugs will be available for viewing on the Claremont Rug Company website (www.claremontrug.com) starting today and will be displayed at the Gallery (6087 Claremont Avenue in Oakland), starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12. Additional information may be obtained at 1-800-441-1332.

The special exhibition will run through Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Rugs from the collection are valued in the $18,000 to $400,000 per piece range.

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