Number SOLD
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style All Over
Origin Kerman
Size 204 x 123
Age 1307 (1889)
Immaculate garden masterpiece designed, signed and woven by the illustrious Grand Master Ostad Hossein Kermani, court weaver to Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar. He was responsible for a series of spectacular and elaborate flowery carpets woven across a 30 year period for the Shah's palaces, specifically during the renovation of the Golestan Palace in Tehran, from the 1860s to the 1880s.
This intricate artwork is a perfect example of his third phase when his career as the preeminent Qajar artist was firmly established. It reflects his more mature and refined style in his later years. The knot count and materials are correspondingly finer.
This remarkable piece is dated 1301 or 1307 Hijri (1883 or 1889) and is an example of his later style characterized by finer knotting, softer tones and a more detailed patterning. Only two others of this style are known, both from the 1880s also. One is an exact copy dated 1306 (1888) in a private French collection, commissioned by the Shah’s cousin Prince Farman Farma. The other has an equally royal provenance and belongs to the Qajar dynasty collection, currently in the Carpet Museum of Iran in Tehran; it is dated 1885.
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 🇱🇻
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 dealer’s 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
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 🇺🇸