Shah Tahmasp Safavi

Shah Tahmasp

Second Safavi Shah reigned 1524 - 1576.
Son of Shah Ismail was called Sam Mirza till he became Shah.
In over 50 years he stabilized the borders and created modern Persia.
Shah Tahmasp moved the capital southward to Qazvin.
1534 Hosayn Khan-e Shamlu attempted to overthrow Shah Tahmasp and put his brother Sam Mirza on the throne.
The Jewel-tree, circa 1530
La Miniature En Orient Plate 42: The Sleep of Rustam

Detail Portrait of A Prince. I attribute this to Aqa Mirak and I believe it is a portrait of Shah Tahmasp

Detail "Portrait of the Prince".1.

Detail "Two Safavid Princes".1.

Here are two more portraits of Shah Tahmasp. The second man in the image to the right is Aqa Mirak.

The oldest Mashhad rugs that I know of are a group of prayer rugs that were given by Shah Tahmasp to Suleyman the Magnificent in 1556. The rugs were made in three grades by the workshop of Sultan Ibrahim Mirza son of Sam Mirza and nephew of Shah Tahmasp. The top grade or Imperial grade was the finest and one of those rugs was in London two years ago and I believe is now in the hands of art collector Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar. Several of the second and third grade examples are still in the Topkapi Museum.

The Perez Topkapi Prayer Rug

A general note on this site: I am not looking to buy or sell. I am reviewing these object to place it in context and to use it as a teaching aid. If you are reading this you probably have a question. Don't write me, I hate email but I will try to answer questions if you call me at 240-988-4866. I am on Eastern Standard Time in the US. Try not to call me after 10 PM. I am not in the rug business and I work a full time job but if you call my cell phone I will try to help. I am often interested in seeing nice collections.

Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

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