Number SOLD
Type Workshop
Material Silk
Style Geometric
Origin Farahan
Size 119 x 90
Age 1807
Exquisite and excellent. This silk is a treasure. It is the oldest known silk lattice carpet of the type that became famous on silk Mohtasham Kashans over a half century later. To say museum quality would be a disservice to its crazy charms.
The quality of the natural dye materials is breathtaking: the cochineal purple, the denim-faded sky blue, the stunning apricot and saffron yellow, and those unparalleled browns.
The central compartment bears a verse of poetry from the Diwan of the great 13th century poet Saadi of Shiraz. In elegant Nastaliq script we read the following from Ghazal no.226:
ุจุณุงุท ุณุจุฒู ฺูฏุฏููุจ ุดุฏ ุจูพุงู ูุดุงุท
ุฒ ุจุณูู ุนุงุฑู ู ุนุงู
ู ุจุฑูุต ุจุฑุฌุณุชูุฏ
๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ ๐ง๐ช๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ
๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐บ๐บ๐ถ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐
(Arif= literally those who know ie who posses mystical knowledge;
Ammi= member of the general public ie someone without secret knowledge.)
Below that is a date, 1222 Hijri.
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. ๐ฌ๐ง
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 ๐ฑ๐ป
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 ๐ญ๐ฐ