HALI Fair Online
Image: Feast Place (Bayram Yeri) carpet, signed Zeki Muren. Turkey, mid 20th Century, David Sorgato.
HALI Fair Online is a new virtual event focused exclusively on antique rugs and textiles from around the globe, running 23-27 June 2021. It is hosted by HALI magazine, which operated HALI Fair annually in London at Olympia from 1998 to 2006 and held the tenth edition of HALI Fair at Mall Galleries in 2019. This was well received, and HALI had planned to make HALI Fair an annual occurrence again, but under the current circumstances, it has moved online this year. Register for HALI Fair Online here.
More than thirty of the world’s most respected specialist dealers have been invited to exhibit at the virtual event, among them are Francesca Galloway, Thomas Murray, Joss Graham, Andres Moraga, David Sorgato and Cora Ginsburg. Around 1,200 vetted objects will be represented by high quality images accompanied by detailed descriptions, with exhibitors on hand to chat with visitors at their virtual stand during the Fair. Alongside fine carpets, characterful tribal rugs and impressive kilims from Iran, Turkey, the Caucasus and Tibet will be beautiful Berber rugs and textiles from North Africa, West African prestige cloths and militia flags, Tunisian indigo shawls, European costume and many other unique objects.
Image: Szur coat. Hungary, mid 20th century, Sarajo.
Virtual Exhibitions will present rarely seen textiles from three private collections: Indian phulkari embroideries from the Karun Collection; Turkman weavings from the Neville Kingston Collection; and nomadic bags and trappings from the Michael and Amy Rothberg Collection.
Image: Bamileke chief or titleholder's hat. Cameroon Grasslands, early 20th century, Andres Moraga.
The Events programme includes: a lecture by V&A curator, Tim Stanley on the royal custom of awarding robes of honour (khel‘at) to members of the court or to distinguished visitors in Iran; a presentation of rare and strikingly graphic flatweave rugs from the mountainous Georgian region of Tusheti from the archives of the Ethnographic Museum in Tblisi, with commentary from Dr Irina Koshoridze; and an interview with Rabat-based Khalid El Kholti, who shares his enthusiasm for, and research into, exquisite embroideries traditionally used to furnish Morocco’s urban homes.
HALI Fair Online and the affiliated exhibitions and events are free to attend. To find out more and register, visit the HALI Fair website.
The HALI Fair Online preview on 23 June 2021 is open exclusively to HALI magazine subscribers. Subscribe here.