A DERVISH FELT HAT
Possibly Shiraz, Iran, 20th century

Of typical high-domed shape, the cream wool felt ground seamlessly steamed on a single block, the exterior worked in black silk thread with an eight-lobed crown, extending into four niche sections, each containing a half-line of nasta’liq script from a Persian quatrain regarding the advantages of modesty, obedience, and silence in the Sufi path, 18.5cm diam. and 17.5cm high.

The inscriptions reading:

ما را به مقام عشق راهی دادند

در کوی خرابات پناهی دادند

درویشی ‌‌و خاموشی ما را دیدند

ما را هم از این نمد کلاهی دادند