Number 44608
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style Pictorial
Origin Arab
Size 91 x 126
Age 1950
This sweet rug from my private collection has taken on new meaning to me, in light of the last weekโs events, from Idlib to Damascus.
It has a famous couplet from the grand old Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi ุงู
ูุฑ ุงูุดุนุฑุงุก, the prince of poets:
ูููุง ุฏู
ุดู ูู
ุง ูุงูุช ุทููุทูุฉ ููุง ุฒูุช ุจุจูู ุงูุนุจุงุณ ุจุบุฏุงู
(If not for Damascus, there would be no Toledo, nor would Baghdad have prospered with the Abbasids.)
It has further inscriptions that say:
ู
ุฏููุฉ ุงูุณูุงู
ุฏู
ุดู ุงูุดุงู
(The city of peace, Damascus of Sham)
It is signed by the Syrian weaver ู
ุญู
ุฏ ุฑุถุง ุงูู
ุฌูุฏ Mohammad Reda Al Majid in the ancient city of ู
ุนุฑุฉ ุงููุนู
ุงู Maโarrat Al Noโman in Idlib province, famous as the birthplace of the medieval poet philosopher ุงุจู ุนูุงุก ุงูู
ุนุฑู Abu Alaโ Al Maโarri (973 - 1057). (No, that was not a nom de guerre nor a pseudonym.)
It is incredibly rare for settled Arabs to weave carpets. It is far rarer to find an Arab workshop-made Syrian carpet. This is a piece of history.
As we witness live history unfolding on fast forward, please spare a thought for the beautiful country of Syria, its utterly remarkable people, their invaluable contributions to humanity across history, and all the hardships they have endured for so long. I pray for peace, prosperity and stability.
Posted on December 8, 2024.
Jโai fait la connaissance de Hadi lors de la prรฉparation de lโexposition ยซ LโEmpire des roses, chefs-dโลuvre de lโart persan du 19รจme siรจcle ยป qui a eu lieu au Louvre-Lens en 2018 et ร laquelle il a participรฉ par le prรชt de tapis exceptionnels. Jโavais alors รฉtรฉ impressionnรฉe par ses connaissances et sa passion pour les tapis orientaux. Cette rencontre a marquรฉ le dรฉbut dโune collaboration riche et fructueuse. Elle a notamment permis au musรฉe du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac de voir ses collections iraniennes sโenrichir de plusieurs tapis et tentures dont certains nโont pas leur รฉquivalent dans les musรฉes occidentaux. Ce que jโapprรฉcie chez Hadi ? Cโest son professionnalisme, son dynamisme et lโengouement quโil a pour son mรฉtier ! Hana Chidiac, Curator of the Middle East Department at the Musee Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris, France ๐ซ๐ท
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
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 ๐ฑ๐ง