More Oriental Rug Notes by Barry O'Connell

A Visit with Mr. Rahim Soltani of Beverly Hills

One of the great collections of Master Workshop carpets has been assembled by Mr. Rahim Soltani of Beverly Hills. It would be easy to think of it as a hobby or a sideline since Mr. Soltani owns David Orgell Jewelers of Rodeo Drive one of the worlds top jewelers but it is more than that. This collection is Mr. Soltani's passion . Besides merely collecting the carpets he knows then and the producers, designers, and weavers who created them. Talking with Mr. Soltani is a pleasure because I always learn from him.

Mr. Soltani visited the United States begining in 1963 not to sell carpets but to buy them. Collecting many carpets for Shahbanu of Iran Farah Diba third wife if the Former Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi those carpets can now be seen in the Carpet Museum in Tehran. In 1967 Mr. Soltani moved to the United States.

Hossien Tafazoli Silk Kashan Rug

More than once I have heard that there were no workshops in Kashan. That statement overlooks the workshop of the master Hossien Tafazoli.

Afshin Nejad of www.OldCarpet.com examining a 1500 knot per square inch Haghighi Rug

This rug by my friend Faizollah Haghighi is a marvel. To achieve 1500 knot per square inch with wool on silk is amazing.

Garden with Ducks by Mohammed Seirafian

By an odd chance I saw two of these on the same day in two different collections. This rug has the old signature.

Mohammed Ali Seirafian's Venice Rug

Mohammed Ali Seirafian is the eldest son of Agha Reza Seirafian and Mr. Soltani tells me that he is 97 years old.

Mohammed Ali Seirafian's Signature

Another view of the Hossien Tafazoli Silk Kashan Rug

I have many more pictures and I will be publishing those soon.

SW-Asia.com