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.
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 ๐ฑ๐ง
Acquiring a piece from my dear friend Hadi is truly a journey. We start that journey with a lesson and detailed background on any piece that is of interest. After a thorough discussion regarding the chosen piece or should I say marvel, since Hadi's pieces are truly marvels, Hadi guides us into why he would advise us to acquire it or go for another of his marvels that would suit us more than the one initially chosen. This sincere advice always makes us feel that we are generously taken care of by Hadi. The learning process and honesty in guidance make us go back only to Hadi whenever we are looking for our next beautiful piece for our homes. All I can say is thank you Hadi for your impeccable guidance and service. Abdullah Al-Awadhi, Kuwait ๐ฐ๐ผ
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 dealerโs 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