Designed By a Grateful Shah Created in a Muslim Nation Honoring the Jews
Persian Silk Carpet Masterpiece with the Stories of the Hebrew Torah Emerges for Sale at Sotheby’s New York December 17, 2025
Antique Silk Carpet Depicts the Chronology of the Jews
Sotheby's New York: December 17, 2025 10:00 EST Lot #55 A Woven Torah in Silk: The Paramount Persian Carpet That Tells the Stories of the Bible 4'3" x 6'8" ca 1895-1900 Excellent Condition with Original Fringes and Selvedges Fully Intact
Now appears this season at Sotheby's New York for high bid a work of art that transcends current world events and marks a distant time when Jews and Muslims peacefully coexisted together within one population. This delicate weaving survives fully intact through two world wars and to the present day of current conflicts with contradictory proof that the modern narrative of these disruptions are perhaps mistaken. This bilical artifact from the 19th century proves the two faiths did indeed respectfully coexist in the past. This magnificnet silk carpet praises the history of the Jews and was woven in a Muslim nation by the permission of a grateful shah. This single work of art has the potential to bridge societies and reinspire world peace between the two cultures. The modern clashes of recent years are perhaps not the historical narrative and young observers can reflect on this collaborative art as evidence that peaceful coexistence that once was can postively return again.
Literary and oral traditions recorded by Hakham Yedidia Shofet (1908–2005), former Chief Rabbi of Iran, identify this carpet type as having been commissioned by the Shah of Persia, Naser al-Din (reigned 1848–96) as a gift for his esteemed Jewish court physician, Hakim Nour Mahmood (1822–1899). According to this account, the Shah offered the carpet in gratitude and admiration following Mahmood’s survival of an assassination attempt by several of the other physicians to the Shah's court as jealousies between other rival doctors developed.
Inspired by the gifted talents of a Jewish doctor (known as a traveling Hakims) who saved the life of the daughter of a prominent Ayatollah this pattern was created by the Shah to honor the occasion. In doing so, the Muslim nation of Persia is honoring the chronology of the Jewish nation. Woven in Kashan (modern Iran) in the final decade of the 19th century with a foundation and pile of pure silk the vibrancy of the palette is astounding. Founded in the famed weaving tradition of the Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925), this Jewish themed silk carpet portrays the most famed stories of the Torah and Biblical Old Testament that all three main faiths of the world Muslim, Christians and Jews revere.
The Main Panel
The ground is divided into two fields, the upper and lower registers. The upper level depicts the interior of King Solomon's Temple with a gate guarded by the Lions of Judah in the foreground and ten support columns. The inner sanctum Holy of Holies also with ten support columns in the background. Above are the crests of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed Asher, Naphtali, Gad, Levi, Joseph, Judah, Zevulun, Isaachar, Benjamin, Simeon, Reuben and Dan. At the top of the panel is the Crown of the Torah with phrases on both sides “And Will you to me; Will carry on the wings of eagles”. At the bottom of the frame a large inscription is written “Temple Mount & Holy Temple” with the Ten Commandments above.
The Lower Panel
The lower half depicts three vertical panels divided by columns, the central paneldepicts the sun shining upon mount Sinai with the tablets of the Ten
Commandments leaning against the Ark of the Covenant with two winged cherubs with the Hebrew phrase “From the east, From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be Praised” and “Know Before Whom you Stand” and “I place God before me always”. A smaller panel beneath portrays the western wall with the phrase “For her stones are dear to your servants; Her very dust moves them to pity”. The right side depicts Moses holding the tablets of the Ten Commandments with the inscription above “My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long” the description at his feet says “hear, O' Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one”. The left side depicts Aaron with his breastplate of the twelve tribes of Israel, a headband inscribed “Holy to God” and above his head the inscription "With my voice I called out to the Lord He answered me from His Holy mountain.” Both men are guarded by a lion.
The Border Panels
The border portrays several cartouches each with Hebrew inscriptions describing the individual scene of the fundamental stories of the Torah. The scenes depict the Selling of Joseph into slavery by his brothers, the Binding of Isaac and Abraham standing above him, (knife in hand), with the angel of the Lord arriving to intervene, the Ascension of Elijah, Noah’s Sacrifice, baby Moses discovered in a reed basket found in the River Nile by the Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses splitting a rock to bring forth water. All these scenes are oriented facing towards the central field of King Solomon's Temple in respectful honor to it.