Number (sold)
Type Village
Material Camel Hair
Style Prayer Rug
Origin Bakhshayesh
Size 133 x 80
Age 1880
One of a handful of extremely rare, important and collectible Bakhshayesh tribal rugs woven with camel hair and that served as meditation or prayer rugs for high ranking members of Sufi brotherhoods in the 19th century. Camel hair as a fiber is closely linked to Sufi mystical rituals and habits given its rarity, softness and color properties. The symbolism of the camel and the great esteem in which it was held by traditional societies in the Middle East further add to that. The plain field allows the camel hair to shine, so to speak, and yields an abstract minimalist effect. We see a prayer mihrab at either end. The Heriz district where the tiny village of Bakhshayesh is located is not known for weaving small sized rugs, giving surviving examples like this tremendous appeal and importance too. Perfect condition. The softness of the texture has to be handled to be believed.
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 🇰🇼
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 🇺🇸
“I practically furnished my entire home with carpets from Hadi. The process was not only a joy but it was also a learning experience for me. Hadi was super helpful in identifying the right pieces for my home that would both work with my taste, budget, sizes required and that would be a good investment for my family. Hadi’s collection is second to none, and his knowledge and service is truly the blessing on top.” Amr Banaja, Public Investment Fund, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦