Number 2021
Type Workshop
Material Wool
Style All Over
Origin Farahan
Size 70 x 267
Age 1224 or 1324
This is a remarkable artwork, a wonder that it has survived. The facts that are evident are:
It was woven in Farahan, an example of that very soft and refined weave associated with the highest echelons of Qajar society.
It is uniquely trapezoidal in shape, unlike the familiar format of horse and most animal covers.
It is huge and impressive in scale and proportion, suggesting it was intended as a ceremonial cover for either an elephant or a camel.
There is a wonderful visual dichotomy between the minuscule vase at the base and the dense, overgrown millefleurs ornamentation.
The existence of an elaborate dedication at the top adds further weight to this historical artifact having distinguished royal provenance. The signature cartouche says:
فرمايش حضرت اجل اصغر السلطنه
"Farmayesh hazret-e ajal Asghar Al Saltaneh"
By high order of His Exalted Excellency Asghar Al Saltaneh
If this refers to the famous Qajar politician Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Soltan, who served as Sadr A'zam (Prime Minister) under both Nasser al-Din Shah and Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar, then the inscribed date reads 1324 (1906-7).
Otherwise if a different figure was behind this lavish commission then the dating would be 1224 (1809-10) and the owner would have been a noble or prince at the court of Fath Ali Shah Qajar. The archaic nature of this museum worthy artwork supports that. The primary suspect here would be Asef Al Dowleh, Prime Minister to FASQ.
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
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 🇱🇧
Purchasing carpets from Hadi Maktabi was the epitome of professionalism and joy. Hadi is an expert curator, purveyor, historian and story teller. His passion, knowledge, professionalism and expertise are evident every step of the way. With a wide range of choices and prices, prompt service, and fast sipping, we had our carpets in Sydney in a matter of days. The ultimate flying carpet experience! Zeina Tebbutt, Sidney, Australia 🇦🇺
Email List
Request Offer