A Kirman pictorial rug, Southeast Persia,

the inscriptions reading: ‘negarandeh-ye naqsheh forsat-e shirazi bafandeh muhammad kirmani 1312’ (The painter of the illustration Fursat of Shiraz, the weaver Muhammad Kermani. 1312 (AD 1894-5); and ‘farmayesh-e aqay-r murtaza qulikhan’ (Commissioned by Mr Murtaza Quli Khan); the portraits are identified as:  European, Turk, American, Zangi (Negro), Iranian, Australian, Rumi (Anatolian), Indian, Chinese and Arab

 Murtaza Quli Khan
Thence by descent

Muhammad Nasir titled Mirza Aqa, known as Fursat al-Dawla Shirazi (1271-1339/AD 1854-1920), was a respected poet and scholar in numerous subjects including: grammar, logic, maths and sciences and with a knowledge of English. He was also a painter and copied European, particularly English prints.  His most famous book, called athar-e 'ajam was commissioned by the then Governor of Fars Husaynquli Khan Nizam al-Saltana on the history, monuments and biography of men of note of Fars from the prehistoric period up to his time, and included drawings of the monuments he visited; written between 1310 (AD 1892) and 1313 (AD1895), it was lithographed in Bombay in 1353 (AD 1934). (Ref. Forsat al-Dawla Shirazi, Athar-e 'Ajam, a reprint from the lithographed copy, Tehran, 1362.)

Murtaza Quli Khan was the son of Najaf Quli Khan Samsam al-Saltaneh (1852-1930), who was one of the key figures in the Constitutional Revolution of 1909; together with his brother Haj Ali Quli Khan (Sardar Asad the 2^nd); on January 5th 1909, he took possession of Isphahan, whilst Sardar Asad was in Europe. On Sardar Asad’s return, in July 1909, Teheran was captured by the two brothers, supported by the other Bakhtiari Khans, thus ending the short reign of the new Shah, Mohammad Ali Qajar (1872-1925), (reigned 8 Jan 1907-16 Jul 1909). Najaf Quli Khan was Prime Minister twice, from 26 July 1911 - 23 November 1912 and again from May 1918 - August 1918. He can be seen, as can Morteza Quli Khan, who commissioned this carpet, in a group photographic portrait illustrated  in Hali Issue 44, April 1989, fig. 31, p.22 in Ian Bennett’s article on Bakhtiari carpets, ‘Carpets of the Khans’ (sixth from left and fourth from right respectively).

Another rug woven from this same cartoon was sold in these rooms on 28 April, 2004, lot 71. Three further examples are known: one in the Carpet Museum of Iran, Teheran, see "Das Neue Teppiche-Museum Iran," Hali, vol. 1, no. 1, Spring 1978, pl. IV; one sold Christie's London April 30, 1998, lot 153 and cover, and a silk version sold Christie's London, October 16, 2003 lot 99.