Siawosch U. Azadi passes away at the age of 89

The rug industry mourns the loss of Siawosch U. Azadi, a widely respected expert in antique and traditional carpets, who has passed away at the age of 89.

Azadi began his career in the 1960s, dealing in old and antique rugs in both wholesale and retail. He gained international recognition not only for his deep knowledge of the trade, but above all for his scholarly contributions. His 1970 publication Turkmenische Teppiche und ihre ethnologische Bedeutung (Turkmen Rugs and Their Ethnological Significance) is regarded as a milestone in the field – the first work to establish a classification system for Turkmen rugs that remains relevant to this day.

In addition to writing for trade journals such as Heimtex and Carpet Collector, Azadi was also active in industry associations. Until 2007, he served as chairman of the BSOT, succeeding Waldemar von Elsner. In 2011, he was honoured with the EUCA Award for his lifetime achievements.

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