Number CC702
Material Wool
Style Prayer Rug
Type Anatolian
Origin Anatolian
Size 144 x 98
Age 1910
This is a unique & brilliant Ottoman-era religious carpet woven by the native Greek community of Cappadocia in Asia Minor in 1910, the descendants of the ancient Hellenic & Byzantine peoples who had lived there for over 4,000 years.
The field is dominated by the double-headed eagle bearing two swords โ๏ธ in its talons, the famous emblem of the Byzantine emperors and, subsequently, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople. It represented the Emperorโs dual suzerainty over the temporal and spiritual worlds or, alternatively, the eastern and western spheres of Christianity. In short, power. The eagle ๐ฆ
is topped by an ecumenical crown ๐ with cross, representing the emperor (and after 1453, the GO Patriarch) as Christโs vicar on earth.
The roundel bears a Greek inscription which reads ๐๐ค๐ก๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฅ๐ค๐ก๐. The top end of the rug has a further inscription ฮคฮ ฮ ฮฮฮคฮ ฮฮฮ ฮฮ ฮ ฮฮฃฮ ฮงฮกฮฮฃฮคฮฮฃ: Everywhere and in everything lives Christ. Further writings appear in the lower part.
The golden saffron field is very eye catching and reflects medieval Byzantine imperial and ecclesiastical banners, which you may still see today outside churches in Greece and elsewhere in the Green Orthodox & Greek Catholic world. The rug has melodious purple and sweet green tones which do not show so well in these hurried photos I took indoors (rain etc). The flower garland above the crown and the blossoming vines above that are delightful.
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
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 ๐ฐ๐ผ
โYou donโt just buy a rug from Dr Maktabi... Itโs an experience, a rich one! You learn about history, culture & art. And more importantly you feel euphoric!โ Dr Siamak Abolhassani, Expert Medical Care Clinics, Victoria, Australia ๐ฆ๐บ
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