Number Sold
Material Wool
Style Prayer Rug
Origin Qashqai
Type Tribal
Size 55 x 45
Age 1880
A unique work of ethnographic art, this tiny carpet punches far above its weight. As a general rule, nomads were illiterate and we barely find any writing on tribal rugs beyond the scarce signature here or a date there. Suddenly this appears and it is quite a welcome conundrum.
I spent long weeks at it until I cracked the puzzle. In short the carpet is a lengthy prayer chant, dedicated to the 12 Imams of the Shia. Their names are listed in angular script. The carpet most likely was made as a pious donation to a holy shrine in Fars province and the rug was based off a drawing made by a professional artist/calligrapher then copied by a Qashqai lady weaver.
The artwork has been published twice in the past:
- Woven Gardens: Nomad and Village Rugs of the Far Province of Southern Persia, David Black & Clive Loveless (eds)
- The Lost Language, Value & Symbolism in Oriental Rugs, John M Douglass & Sue N. Peters, vol.2, pl.80
βI practically furnished my entire home with carpets from Hadi. The process was not only a joy but it was also a learning experience for me. Hadi was super helpful in identifying the right pieces for my home that would both work with my taste, budget, sizes required and that would be a good investment for my family. Hadiβs collection is second to none, and his knowledge and service is truly the blessing on top.β Amr Banaja, Public Investment Fund, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia πΈπ¦
I have been buying and collecting oriental rugs for over 40 years. As a result I have had direct experiences with many dealers and galleries throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. The Hadi Maktabi establishment is distinct and unique. It is rare to find a dealer who not only has a discerning taste and excellent choice of rugs. But with Hadi, the experience is one of an erudite oriental rug scholar paired with years of family experiences and traditions dealing in rugs, carpets and textiles. The available choices, diversity and quality of his stock is awesome. It is always a pleasure. Highly recommended and satisfying. As a collector he has become not only a partner of choice, knowledge and information but also a valued friend. Robert Bell, CEO Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, U.K. π¬π§
I first met Dr. Maktabi as a lecturer on carpet history and was captivated by his passion for the subject. Only later I knew him as a dealer, though even in our financial transactions, Hadi has been a gentle guide and friend. He has understood my taste and interests and made wonderful suggestions, but never in a pushy way. That is to say I have enjoyed working with him on several levels and wish to continue our excellent relations and dealings far into the future. A. Harvey Pincis, formerly Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah Museum (Kuwait), Latvia π±π»