Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Cyr-Yomud-rug

Full Text:

A $96,250 Rug At Cyr's

(with cut)

GRAY, ME. -- On May 5, Cyr Auctions sold a five by nine foot Nineteenth

Century Yomud rug for $96,250. According to reporter Bob Jackman, the rug was

described by Jeff Acari of Landry as rare, due to the "repetition of a Yomud

gull known only on one other rug," which appeared on its additional skirt

beyond the long ends' borders. The rug came from a consignment of

approximately 250 lots from the heirs of Edna and Edmund Socec of Augusta, Me.

"The family was Romanian royalty that had fled with an entire steamer of

possessions," says Jim Cyr. "We found the rug rolled up in the barn -- the

heirs did not think much [of it]. I unrolled one corner of it and thought it

was at least a $5,000 rug." Cyr believes the textile sold to a New England rug

dealer representing a European buyer. The underbidder was a benefactor for a

"young San Francisco museum."