Number 1617
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style All Over
Origin Farahan
Size 510 X 315
Age 1850
Utterly magnificent. This carpet has a Farahan weave and pre-dated the Ziegler enterprise which was set up in Sultanabad in 1872. It features a royal Shah Abbas field of all over lotus flowers and leaves.
It has 2 main and very powerful attractions, age apart. One is the imposing size; the other is the formidable border. Not only is it quite wide in proportion to the carpet, but it is presented with an uncommon ivory color that contrasts sharply with the midnight blue field. On top it bears an extremely elegant sequence of calligraphic roundels executed in ultra elaborate Nastaliq script. The gist of this poetry is that the "carpet was created to go under the feet of the Sultans of the world" ie made for a royal audience-- and very fittingly in Sultanabad, the city of Sultans.
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§
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 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»