Number SOLD
Material Wool
Style Prayer Rug
Type Anatolian
Origin Anatolian
Size 178 x 124
Age 1860
The Manastir Turkish clans get their name from their original habitats on the slopes of Balkan mountains atop which Greek Orthodox monasteries (like Mount Athos) perched. Most Manastir rugs are kilim woven making knotted pile carpets like this rarer. Aesthetically it belongs to a design group called Mecidi (Majidi) after the Sultan Abdul Majid who reigned 1839-1861 on account of certain stylistic factors in carpet design which appeared during his reign. They are sometimes called Ottoman Baroque. The white field is knotted with undyed sheep's wool, dotted with abstract symbols and crowned with a domed mosque at the top. Note the protective halos around the mosque--fascinating! The mehrab prayer niche is ghost like and jagged, somewhat electrified. Perhaps most puzzlingly the border has two distinct patterns, both of oversized roundel forms.
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 🇱🇧
“I 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. Hadi’s collection is second to none, and his knowledge and service is truly the blessing on top.” Amr Banaja, Public Investment Fund, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
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 🇭🇰