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Lot Essay
This carpet depicts the portraits of a large number of 19th century leading world figures accompanied by a series of grand exhibition buildings. The most prominent of the portraits at the base of the tree, however is that of the great discoverer Christopher Columbus. With the inclusion of the American flag at the top of the carpet one can be certain that this carpet depicts the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition, which was the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago's self image and American industrial optimism. Among the many exhibits one of the most popular amusements was the first ever Ferris wheel, invented by George Ferris. It was over 250 feet high and is depicted at the top of the carpet. The large rectangular building in the foreground was the main International Exposition building which for the first time was devoted entirely to the revolutionary introduction of electricity.
The historical accuracy of this carpet is overwhelming and even goes so far as to include, in the lower right hand corner, a small replica of the Gokstad Viking ship which had been built in Norway especially for the exhibition and was sailed across the Atlantic by ninety-two men for the opening.
The inscription cartouches in the bottom border note that this carpet was commissioned by Muhammed Reza Khan and was woven in the workshop of the Master, 'Ali Kirmani. This would appear to refer to Mohammad-Reza Khan Sardar-e Fateh (1885-1934), the ninth son of Emamqoli Khan, known as Haji Ilkani, and the father of Sapur Baktiar (b.1914), the last prime minister of Mohammed-Reza Shah Pahlavi, (Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol.III, New York, 2000, p.549).
The historical accuracy of this carpet is overwhelming and even goes so far as to include, in the lower right hand corner, a small replica of the Gokstad Viking ship which had been built in Norway especially for the exhibition and was sailed across the Atlantic by ninety-two men for the opening.
The inscription cartouches in the bottom border note that this carpet was commissioned by Muhammed Reza Khan and was woven in the workshop of the Master, 'Ali Kirmani. This would appear to refer to Mohammad-Reza Khan Sardar-e Fateh (1885-1934), the ninth son of Emamqoli Khan, known as Haji Ilkani, and the father of Sapur Baktiar (b.1914), the last prime minister of Mohammed-Reza Shah Pahlavi, (Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol.III, New York, 2000, p.549).