Number 404
Type Village
Material Wool
Style Flowery
Origin Malayer
Size 165 x 117
Age 1870
This is the finest Malayer rug I have had. The weave is as crisp as the best pure silk carpets you will ever see. The Gol Farang flowery style is interpreted with an impressive sense of balance and symmetry. Six half medallion are equally spaced around the complete central one. In between all is a stunning negative space of midnight blue, a natural dye so saturated that it is closer to blackish kohl than blue. And in it we see the secret to this rug's success and its raison d'être: four little human motifs of a young lady. From what we know of old customs, this indicates this was a dowry rug woven on occasion of a young bride's impending wedding. Absolutely brilliant.
To me personally there is no surprise, event or frankly anything that gets me more excited than the purchase of a treasured piece of understated artwork such as that of a proper vintage/antique carpet. The sourcing, grading and authentication of these pieces is no small task but is of the highest importance. Through the respected dealer Hadi Maktabi all that is guaranteed, and rest assured the one thing I can guarantee personally as a client is a first class service from the initial selection process till it gets delivered right to your door step. It was an undeniably special experience, with hundreds of carpets to choose from, will definitely be visiting again. Thank you dear Hadi. Habeeb Al Monawer, Kuwait 🇰🇼
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 🇱🇻
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 🇱🇧