Number 402
Origin Shahsavan
Material Wool
Style Geometric
Type Kilim
Size 329 x 170
Age 1850
This is one of a pair of exquisitely fine kilims I bought from the descendant of one of the grand old Khans of the Shahsavan tribe. The other I sold to a very good friend of mine, a dedicated kilim collector. The nomadic clan that wove it used to inhabit the fertile grasslands around Hashtrud in Azerbaijan, so called because it lay at the conflux of 8 rivers or streams.
This kilim was made using the finest dyes and wool, and is by far finer than any other tribal kilim I've seen. The traditional Shahsavan manner of staggering rows of lozenges, separated by narrow horizontal strips, is given new life here. Indeed this may well be the originator of such designs seen elsewhere (please check the Shahsavan Shirvan Kilim elsewhere on this site). Usually 4 lozenges appear per row in a 2 meter wide kilim. Here we have 8 per 1.7 meter width. Do the width to appreciate how finer it is. It folds neatly into the size of 4 iPads stacked above one another. Dyes? Zoom in to be amazed!
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 🇱🇧
“You don’t just buy a rug from Dr Maktabi... It’s an experience, a rich one! You learn about history, culture & art. And more importantly you feel euphoric!” Dr Siamak Abolhassani, Expert Medical Care Clinics, Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺
As a carpet collector of 30 years, I have noticed a decline in the amount of truly unique and high quality carpets on the market. I have also noted a decline in the knowledge of merchants, generally. Hadi Maktabi stands against this trend as a both a curator for and an educator of his clients. His offerings are well-researched, museum quality carpets that are both singular and expertly chosen. In dealing with Hadi, I have experienced excellent communication, a high standard of service and extremely pleasant interactions. Warren D., Hong Kong 🇭🇰