Vintage Pictorial Hamadan Rug

This rug let depicts the 19^th century dervish Nur ‘Ali Shah leaning on his protective axe, with a rounded (“sugar loaf”) crown dervish hat, and a begging bowl (kashkul) on the ground in front. There are many Kerman dervish pictorial rugs, but very few rustic ones, as here. The pose and orientation are common to all and traces back to a painting. Medium rustic weave on cotton foundation.