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Lot Essay
The inscription can possibly be read amal-e Lajaran, which translates as 'Work of Lajaran'.
This superb prayer rug formerly in the collection of Charles Richardson appears to be unique among this enigmatic group of prayer rugs. No other rug in the group has related drawing, such bold colouring or a Farsi inscription which suggests that the prayer rug is the product of a highly cultivated weaver. In his seminal article 'Beshir Prayer Rugs', Hali 151, pp.74-83, Ralph Kaffel discusses the present prayer rug in his supplementary notes, labelling it no.U4. He places the prayer rug in context by relating it to two non-prayer rug designs; a rug published in Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche II, Munich, 1979, no.99, p.148 and a rug exhibited by Eitzenberger at the Hali Fair in 2001 (Hali 116, May-June 2001, p.53). These two rugs establish a common Beshir heritage but cannot explain the beautiful drawing and exceptional colouring of this unique prayer rug. It seems probable that it would have been a special commission, possibly for an eminent Ersari tribal leader.
This superb prayer rug formerly in the collection of Charles Richardson appears to be unique among this enigmatic group of prayer rugs. No other rug in the group has related drawing, such bold colouring or a Farsi inscription which suggests that the prayer rug is the product of a highly cultivated weaver. In his seminal article 'Beshir Prayer Rugs', Hali 151, pp.74-83, Ralph Kaffel discusses the present prayer rug in his supplementary notes, labelling it no.U4. He places the prayer rug in context by relating it to two non-prayer rug designs; a rug published in Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche II, Munich, 1979, no.99, p.148 and a rug exhibited by Eitzenberger at the Hali Fair in 2001 (Hali 116, May-June 2001, p.53). These two rugs establish a common Beshir heritage but cannot explain the beautiful drawing and exceptional colouring of this unique prayer rug. It seems probable that it would have been a special commission, possibly for an eminent Ersari tribal leader.