Number 1790
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style Medallion
Origin Arab
Size 180 x 135
Age 1885
An extremely rare 19th century Iraqi rug inscribed " مكتب صنايع بغداد" (Baghdad School of Handicrafts). It has to be noted that the first word 'maktab' (school) shares the same etymology as my surname.
The school was established in Baghdad in 1871 in the days of the Ottoman governor (Wali) Midhat Pasha, who governed the vilayet between 1869 and 1872. While there he established a number of state schools, the Arts & Crafts. (Arts et Metiers) being one of them. His tenure was brief because his successes as a ruler got him the position of Grand Vizier in 1872.
The school taught its students a number of crafts, carpet weaving foremost among them. It had to be self sufficient, to provide for the students, and so its wares (rugs included) were carefully calibrated to be fine and attractive in order to generate income for the institution. The same was happening in the Tehran schools in parallel.
To my knowledge this is the only surviving carpet bearing this signature and concrete links to Ottoman Iraq. As such it is historically important and very collectible.
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 🇱🇧
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 🇱🇻
“You don’t just buy a rug from Dr Maktabi... It’s an experience, a rich one! You learn about history, culture & art. And more importantly you feel euphoric!” Dr Siamak Abolhassani, Expert Medical Care Clinics, Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺
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