Number 1906
Origin Sarab
Material Camel Hair
Style Prayer Rug
Type Tribal
Size 379 x 167
Age 1317 (1899)
A unique tribal Sarab carpet woven with plush camel hair, combining geometric abstraction with rich Persian symbolism. The upper border carries an important inscription:
ู
ุญุฑูู
ุงูุญุฑุงู
ุณูุฉ ูกูฃูกูง
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ 1317
Nomadic Sarab rugs are almost never signed nor dated. Why would one be inscribed in this manner? The key rests in the month of Moharram, which is when the 10 days of the battle of Karbala took place in the year 61 of the Hijra (683 AD). Ashoura, the religious commemoration of the killing of the Prophet's grandson, Imam Hossein, remains arguably the single most important event in the Shia calendar. During these 10 days, and until today, people would gather in mosques or ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐บ๐ขs to recite the tragic stories of that battle. As such, the month of Moharram carries significant socio-cultural connotations and its mentioning on a carpet indicates that it was commissioned for either a mosque or more likely a ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐บ๐ข on this holy occasion.
As such we have here not only a very beautiful antique artifact, but also a very gripping artwork of massive ethnographic and religious value.
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
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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 ๐บ๐ธ
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