Number HA654
Material Silk
Style Prayer Rug
Type Anatolian
Origin Anatolian
Size 170 x 121
Age 18th Century
Luxury, opulence and spirituality meet in this wonderful artwork. This is a rare and valuable transition piece between the fabled royal Ottoman carpets of the 16th century and the workshop ones of the 19th. It retains the pristine elegance and innate confidence of those early creations.
The ivory field is open, bearing twin columns and a lantern dangling from the green Mehran prayer arch. Green is a rare natural dye and quite a symbolic choice of color for a religious Islamic artwork due to its associations with the Banner of the Prophet. The composition is framed by a golden border in the authentic Ottoman palace style of the 1500s. This a wonderfully old carpet that represents the last vestiges of the royal court tradition.
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 dealer’s 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
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 🇱🇻
Hadi Maktabi and his staff provide comprehensive and thoughtful services to collectors and textile buyers worldwide. His knowledge of antique oriental rugs and textiles, including many fine offerings from the Levant, is unsurpassed. We have been loyal customers for over five years and have visited his Beirut premises. He has worked with us upon several occasions to select the exact Ottoman and Levantine pieces we wanted for our collection. You can be sure of quality and honesty when dealing with Hadi. Penelope and Timothy Hays, Just In From The East Collection, Florida 🇺🇸