'The Letter That Never Arrived' or Nameh-i ke hargez naresid (Carpet Cloak) by Bita Ghezelayagh Iran, 2013 comprising a Hamadan and Mahal carpet fragment forming a cloak, the cotton warp knotted in polychrome wools with an interlace of floral sprays and split-palmettes to upper panel and geometric floral and foliate motifs to lower panel, the upper front section with applied metal flowers, keys, crowns and portraits of a man, accompanying stand 161.8 cm. high Footnotes: Provenance Property from a distinguished private collection, London. Ghezelayagh (b.1966) is an Italian-born artist, who was brought up in Iran, and began her career as an architect, specialising in the restoration of historic sites. This interest in rejuvenation carried through into her series, 'The Letter That Never Arrived'. Combining and layering threadbare Persian and Middle Eastern carpets, Ghezelayagh reworked them as shepherd cloaks. She then embellished each piece with metal charms and embroidery, evoking not just Iranian carpet-making traditions but the practice of wearing charms in clothing and hair as tokens of good luck and protection. The final piece therefore pays respect to artisanal tradition, while reconciling this craft with modernity. As Ghezelayagh and her gallerist notes, her work returns to carpets their 'honourable function' and 'dignity', while 'taking the pulse of Iran, the loss of craftsmanship, bad economy, carpet weavers and felt-makers losing their jobs... [she seeks to] maintain what is best in her culture when all is falling apart.' Important Notice to Buyers Some countries, e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of works of particular origins. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian), Syrian or Afghan origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid on or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: R R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing