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Lot Essay
By the end of the 19th century, the Bakhtiari tribe were a dominant force in Iran both economically and militarily. The tribes' pasture lands were rich in oil and through this the tribal leaders, or khans, dramatically increased their wealth and power. For a detailed account of the Bakhtiari see Gene R. Garthwaite, 'The Bakhtiyari Khans, The Government of Iran and the British, 1846-1915', International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol.3, Cambridge, 1972. pp.24-44.
During this period a number of imposing large-scale carpets were woven for individual khans, of which many bore lengthy and often dated inscriptions. The earliest dated carpet as noted by Ian Bennett in his article, 'Carpets of the Khans, Part 2', (Hali 44, April 1989, pl.25, p.19) is from AH 1302/1884-5 AD. The Bakhtiari leaders' power declined in the 1930s when the power of the khans was ceded to Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925-1941). A white ground Bakhtiari with the same field design as the present carpet was sold in the Davide Halevim sale, Christie's, London, 14 February 2001, lot 109, whilst an extremely large inscribed yellow-ground carpet of the same design was offered for sale in these Rooms, 9 October 2006, lot 150.
During this period a number of imposing large-scale carpets were woven for individual khans, of which many bore lengthy and often dated inscriptions. The earliest dated carpet as noted by Ian Bennett in his article, 'Carpets of the Khans, Part 2', (Hali 44, April 1989, pl.25, p.19) is from AH 1302/1884-5 AD. The Bakhtiari leaders' power declined in the 1930s when the power of the khans was ceded to Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925-1941). A white ground Bakhtiari with the same field design as the present carpet was sold in the Davide Halevim sale, Christie's, London, 14 February 2001, lot 109, whilst an extremely large inscribed yellow-ground carpet of the same design was offered for sale in these Rooms, 9 October 2006, lot 150.