Persian Carpet, The High Commissioner Herbert Samuel, Circa 1921

Carpet with the portrait of the High Commissioner Herbert Samuel and the symbols of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Kerman, Persia (Iran), 1921.
Below the portrait appear, in Hebrew characters, the names of the persons who commissioned the carpet: "Haji Moshe" and "Yehudah". Sixteen round medallions appear in a frame, twelve of them show the symbols of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, three of them inscribe the name of the High Commissioner – in Hebrew, "High Commissioner Sir Herbert Samuel", in English (but from right to left) and in Persian. Within the final medallion appear the date and location in Hebrew: "Elul 18, 5681 [1921], Iran". Four Stars of David with the word "Zion" within appear at the corners. The name of the city and the name of the weaver are woven on the top and bottom margins, in Hebrew – "in the city(?) Kerman" / "Shuka".
Kerman is known for portrait carpets often featuring Persian, English and Russian royalty.
 
Literature: Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997. Item no. 8.
Provenance: Collection of Anton Felton.