Number cc749
Origin Shahsavan
Material Camel Hair
Style Prayer Rug
Type Kilim
Size 153 x 140
Age 1322 (1904)
Now this is a find. A rare find. A very rare find indeed.
It was most likely woven by the Shahsavan nomads of the Sarab district in northwest Persia in mixed flat-weave techniques: the soft camel hair field is kilim woven, as is the thin red border while the central medallion, tribal motifs across the field, and pin striping within the border are all executed in ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ stitch weave.
This historically valuable artwork has the distinctive square shape, flat woven nature and dimensions of a tribal "eating cloth" ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐๐. It would be laid out on the grass or the sand, and the family's food would be served on it. Very few old ones survive.
What makes this specific ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ so unique and incredible is the fact that it is inscribed-- at a time when the vast plurality of nomadic peoples, in Persia or elsewhere, were entirely illiterate.
The left hand side inscription is of a religious nature; it mentions the holy names of Allah, (Prophet) Mohammad, (Imam) Ali, (Saydeh) Fatima, (Imam) Hasan and (Imam) Hossein. Apart from God, these holy figures were the ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฏ, the 5 Holy People of ๐๐ฉ๐ญ ๐๐ญ-๐๐ข๐บ๐ต, the Prophet's household. Note how elegant, balanced and detailed the inscription is.
The inscription on the right hand side is in mirror writing, legible from the back side of the ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐๐. It bears the date 1322 equivalent to 1904. In short, it is obvious that this was no mere eating cloth but in fact a prized and cherished item that utilized expensive camel hair and was commissioned on behalf of a high ranking individual-- in this case, indubitably, the chief Khan of the Shahsavan tribe.
Jโai fait la connaissance de Hadi lors de la prรฉparation de lโexposition ยซ LโEmpire des roses, chefs-dโลuvre de lโart persan du 19รจme siรจcle ยป qui a eu lieu au Louvre-Lens en 2018 et ร laquelle il a participรฉ par le prรชt de tapis exceptionnels. Jโavais alors รฉtรฉ impressionnรฉe par ses connaissances et sa passion pour les tapis orientaux. Cette rencontre a marquรฉ le dรฉbut dโune collaboration riche et fructueuse. Elle a notamment permis au musรฉe du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac de voir ses collections iraniennes sโenrichir de plusieurs tapis et tentures dont certains nโont pas leur รฉquivalent dans les musรฉes occidentaux. Ce que jโapprรฉcie chez Hadi ? Cโest son professionnalisme, son dynamisme et lโengouement quโil a pour son mรฉtier ! Hana Chidiac, Curator of the Middle East Department at the Musee Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris, France ๐ซ๐ท
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