Number 91
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style Medallion
Origin Kashan
Size 197 x 136
Age 1870
For lovers of the oldest Persian carpets, this is magic. It stands on the cusp of that delicate transition from high grade Farahan weaving in the 1850s and the launch of the Mohtasham school in Kashan in the 1870s. Which is it? I find it really hard to tell. I've only seen 2 other rugs with this blend of Mohtasham-like soft wool and mesmerizing dyes and the floppier handle of the older and more supple Farahan rugs. Regardless, as Shakespeare says, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
The calligraphic border is a tour de force, impeccable and arresting. The blues sparkle, especially the ton sur ton combo of midnight and sky blues. There is grace and skill at every turn: the mathematically precise border, the beautifully crenellated indigo frame around the ivory field, the perfection of the Nastaliq script and the sense of balance and symmetry throughout.
In short, one of the best Persian carpets I have ever seen.
To me personally there is no surprise, event or frankly anything that gets me more excited than the purchase of a treasured piece of understated artwork such as that of a proper vintage/antique carpet. The sourcing, grading and authentication of these pieces is no small task but is of the highest importance. Through the respected dealer Hadi Maktabi all that is guaranteed, and rest assured the one thing I can guarantee personally as a client is a first class service from the initial selection process till it gets delivered right to your door step. It was an undeniably special experience, with hundreds of carpets to choose from, will definitely be visiting again. Thank you dear Hadi. Habeeb Al Monawer, Kuwait 🇰🇼
You can't only be a customer of Hadi Maktabi. While his main purpose is rug dealing, he starts with story telling and ends with history selling. That's what I call high-end art curating and closing it all with an entertaining friendship. George El Hani, CEO Levica, Lebanon 🇱🇧
The idea of purchasing valuable rugs and other artwork online from an overseas seller is daunting for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that, not being able to examine and feel the rug for yourself, you are never entirely certain that the origin, age or condition of the rug corresponds with the dealer’s description. For me, I could never take this step unless I had absolute trust in the integrity of the dealer, and my recent experience with Hadi confirms that my faith in him was well placed. Every detail of the antique rug expertly explained by Hadi was accurate and when I finally received the actual rug, it turned out to be even more stunning than his photos depicted. F. Alsagoff, Singapore