Georgina Adam ferrets out the odd tale of two Francis Bacon designed carpets that were to be sold in the UK. The consignor finally realized they were quite valuable and pulled them from the sale where they had been estimated at £50-80,000 but were expected to go for much more. Without the Bacon name, they would be nearly worthless as rugs. Here’s Adam on the event:

The sale of two very rare carpets by Francis Bacon, due to be auctioned in a provincial saleroom last month, has been cancelled; they were suddenly taken back by the consignor, an Iranian rug dealer. Their appearance had triggered widespread interest, as they date from Bacon’s early and brief career as an interior designer, and may be the only survivors of the first exhibition of his creations in 1929.

New Women and the Red Guard (Financial Times)