A FINE UNCUT AMIRI TERMEH SHAWL
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Kirman, Iran, 19th century

The khal’at (robe of honour) length of fine ivory wool ground twill tapestry-woven in black, dark blue, dark green, orange, and red with alternating rows of small buti, infilled and interspersed with floral motifs, the lower loom end chain-stitched in yellow silk with a cartouche containing words relating to a special commission from a Kirman workshop, 233cm x 106cm.

Mirza Taqi Khan Farahani, better known as Amir Kabir (1807-1852), Iran’s modernising prime minister (1848-1851), was a great patron of the arts and industry. His austere sartorial style employed coats tailored from shawls such as the present example, making them synonyms of his style.