Number 924
Material Wool
Style Pictorial
Origin Qashqai
Type Tribal
Size 120 x 95 when fully opened
Age 1870
How can you not fall in love with this? Even if you won't really need it for travel or migration, something about it tugs at you and makes you want it. It is one of a kind really, a carpet woven bag that goes lightyears beyond saddlebag ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ซ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด and ๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ณ๐ข๐ด๐ฉ bedding bags. It was published in an Italian collection back in the 1980s, when it was already over 100 years old, and hasn't aged a day since. A highly accomplished artist from the Kashkuli clan created it.
It is woven in one complete piece on a loom but consists of 5 sections. The central one is woven in rainbow stripe kilim and the 4 lateral ones are knotted in carpet pile. The two parts on the right and left are hexagonal while the upper and lower ones are rectangular. The 4 sections rise together to form a hexagonal-pyramidcal 3D structure. The bag has its original leather straps and iron buckles, in addition to leather going around the edges where woolen selvedges would normally be wound. Impeccable! All this and we haven't started to mention the ๐๐ฐ๐ญ ๐ฐ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ญ design..
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 dealerโs 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
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 ๐ฑ๐ง
I must say this one of the most enriching carpet purchase experiences I ever had. This was not a mere transaction but more an experience about art and history. Dr Maktabi's experience and knowledge in this space is second to none. Highly recommended! R.A., Doha, Qatar