c1920s Antique Fish-Herati Persian Hajjalili Rug 4.7x6.4

Haji Jalili was for many years the best grade of Tabriz rugs. They were made in Marand on the main road northwest of Tabriz about half way to Jolfa on the Azerbaijan border. Keep in mind that Tabriz in this context does not refer to a specific city but rather to a region. This area is now called the Province of Azarbayian-e Sharqi. Of this region the best carpets circa 1900 were attributed to the workshop of Haji Jalili in the town of Marand. As I look at the Haji Jalili rugs as seen in the trade I doubt much more than half of them are properly in the Haji Jalili group and of that group only a part can properly be attributed to Hajji Jalili himself. As for the idea of a specific workshop it is possible that there was a workshop but I think it more likely that Haji Jalili was a producer who subcontracted individual rugs out to weavers who worked in their own homes.