1856 Afghan Turkoman Royal Carpet with Provenance

An Afghan Turkoman Royal carpet, dated 1856 (Islamic year 1235), the woolen carpet of natural dyes with a long medallion to the centre, made for the Afghan Royal Family, dated 1856. Inscribed in Dari (Persian) to one end: 'Made in the workshop of Chob Bash, Shir Ali Khan, Governor of Mazar-i-Sharif 1235'., 360 cm x 220 cm. Provenance: The contents of the Royal palaces in Afghanistan, including this carpet were auctioned by the revolutionary government after the Saur revolution in 1978. This carpet was bought by a Kabul dealer, and was purchased by the Copelands from his widow in 2014. Other Notes: Chob Bash is a Turkoman weaving centre in the north of Afghanistan. Shir Ali Khan was the designated heir of Dost Muhammad, Amir of Afghanistan, in 1856. Shir Ali Khan became Amir of Afghanistan in 1862. The Islamic year of 1235 is the equivalent of Ce 1856.