OUR STORY
Shahkar (“masterpiece” in Farsi) is a collection of extraordinary antique Oriental rugs curated over 50 years by textile expert Iraj Noorollah, who emigrated to the United States from Iran in 1963.
Under the banner of his successful New York City-based wholesale and appraisal business, Iraj scoured the globe — from the Middle East to Europe to Asia — for vintage treasures. Applying his keen eye for design and craftsmanship, Iraj personally selected decorative carpets and tapestries lovingly preserved and handed down through generations. Those showpieces found new life displayed in homes, movie sets and luxury hotels thanks to Iraj’s strong relationships with clients and top auction houses such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Doyle.
Today, the Shahkar collection includes 1,000 antique carpets — most at least 75 years old — and 75 antique tapestries dating from the 16th through 19th centuries. In keeping with Iraj’s impeccable standards, every piece is in excellent condition.
Like the heirlooms in the collection, Shakhar has its own beautiful lineage. Iraj’s daughter, Sheila Noorollah, an art advisor and appraiser, collaborated with her father to bring his life’s work online for the first time in 2019.
New carpets are frequently added to the Shahkar Fine Carpets site, but Iraj and Sheila also gladly open their extensive archives to clients searching for a specific rug or tapestry. Have your heart set on a 16 x 26 foot Antique Farahan Sarouk in Red or a 12 x 14 foot 17th Century Flemish Verdure? Send us an email — and open up a world of exquisite one-of-a-kind possibilities!