Provenance and Workshop Heritage

The workshop of Haji Jalili (also spelled Hadschi Jalili) operated in Tabriz between approximately 1880 and 1915 and is widely considered one of the most legendary names in the history of Persian weaving. Haji Jalili pieces are defined by three signatures: the use of kork wool — the finest neck wool, soft and lustrous — a precise botanical floral idiom, and a quietly distinctive, restrained palette.

This piece was hand-knotted in Tabriz between 1890 and 1910, placing it at over 110 years of age. The composition follows the classical Haji Jalili language: a finely drawn floral field around a stepped central medallion, with the workshop's characteristic compositional clarity — a precursor to what would later be celebrated in Western interiors as Art Deco sensibility. The piece retains its original selvedge, a significant collector's detail.

Colour and Composition

The palette is built on a luminous ivory field, drawn with a dense botanical scrollwork in muted rust and salmon, sage-green and olive-gold, with pale light-blue floral accents. A stepped central medallion anchors the field, its core in deep brown-aubergine. The composition is framed by a taupe-brown main border of palmettes and vine. The whole reads as the restrained, harmonious register that made the Haji Jalili workshop legendary — the natural dyes have mellowed across more than a century into a soft, authentic patina that no contemporary production can replicate.

An Investment-Grade Collector Piece

Antique rugs from named master workshops such as Haji Jalili occupy a distinct tier of the market. As a documented piece from a legendary workshop, retaining its original selvedge and over a century old, this Tabriz is both a furnishing and a tangible-asset investment — the kind of piece that has historically held and appreciated in value among knowledgeable collectors. It is offered as a serious acquisition for the connoisseur.

Presence in the Room

At 172 × 126 cm (2.2 m²) this is a small collector's format — a piece for focused placement and personal use. Three contexts in which it reaches its full effect:

• Library or study: Beside a writing desk or beneath a reading chair, the fine kork wool drawing adds depth without competing with bookshelves and panelling.
• Entrance hall or salon: As a hero piece beneath a console or in a small reception area, the Haji Jalili reads as a signature of the host.
• Collector's wall: Mounted on a wall, the piece functions as fine textile art — the finely drawn kork wool rewards close viewing.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Responsible Sourcing · Label STEP

Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs — a commitment to dignified working conditions and against child labour in rug production. Visit the Label STEP entry for Djoharian Teppiche →

Djoharian — Collector and Investment-Grade Rugs Since 1967

With roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade, Djoharian has specialised in antique and collector rugs since 1967. On 1stDibs we have been a verified seller since 2013, with 5.0/5 stars across 18 reviews and the „Recognized Dealer“ badge.

Service and Delivery

Every piece in the Djoharian Collection is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main, professionally washed and shipped with a certificate of authenticity. We offer secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, and personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.