Number cc436
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style Pictorial
Origin Tabriz
Size 76 x 57
Age 1923
This is an invaluable historical document, portraying as it does Reza Khan during his brief tenure as Minister of War prior to acceding to the throne as Reza Shah Pahlavi.
The inscription states
ุญุถุฑุช ฺูฏุงูู ูุงุฌู ุงูุฑุงู ุณุฑุฏุงุฑ ุงุณุนุฏ
๐๐๐ฏ๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ, ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ผ๐จ'๐๐
๐๐๐จ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ, ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ผ๐จ'๐๐
(this being his ceremonial title, roughly meaning "Blessed Commander-in-Chief")
The rug has a medal-like layout with the heraldic coat of arms of the Qajar dynasty all round him. Note the distinctively 19th century style ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ ๐จ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ (lion and sun) emblem. Reza Khan's cap is still that of the Cossack legion he commanded and not yet the royal crown for which he became famous.
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 ๐ฑ๐ป
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
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