Based in Lahore, Azhar brings to life antique carpets, a skill possessed by only a few in the world
THE aura around Syed Azhar Samdani is that of a man who understands carpets not only as decorative and functional pieces but as trademarks of history as well. This is what is reflected in his unique work. Samdani restores fine antique, semi-antique and contemporary area carpets and tapestries, and gives consultations for conservation. His impeccable work and industrious nature makes him a favourite of museums, upscale private collectors, dealers, manufacturers and consumers.
Entering Samdani’s residence in Gulberg, the only area in Lahore where the trees are taller than the high-rises, I knew almost immediately that I would be in for hours of interesting conversation in an environment not cluttered with the decorative items of a conventional drawing room but with a myriad of tools from paint brushes to cutters to demonstrative knots sealed in small sacks and presentations on the exceptional work of an amazing craftsman. His personal warmth first charmed me, later I learnt about his knowledge of carpets and extraordinary restoration skills.
In today’s complex world, Azhar Samdani lives simply at peace with himself and with the rest of the world. Which is why he is so energetic and active and “has never fallen sick or taken any medicine all of his life,” he reveals. He fondly talks of his father S. G. Samdani to whom he owes a lot . I found him contented with and thankful for what Allah Almighty had blessed him with.
An economist by profession, Samdani did not plan to make a career out of carpet restoration. He never had the formal training. It all started by coincidence when Azhar Samdani restored the family carpets that were brought by his father from Iran. During the restoration of the fine Persian carpets, Samdani realised that he had discovered his metier: the restoration of rare carpets. Later in 1977, after retiring from government service, Azhar Samdani decided to take up carpet restoration as a full-time pursuit. Now he does the job because it gives him pleasure and that is what seems to matter most.
Everybody is gifted at something. Samdani’s gift just happens to be more valuable and different from others. “If you can see the repair work in a carpet, then it has not been repaired,” is Samdani’s ultimate credo. He has a talent for being able to replicate motifs that were worn out or, in some cases that had disappeared in places. He also has an aptitude to match exactly the original weaving techniques, which vary greatly with the region and era in which a carpet was made. He weaves the carpet exactly replacing whatever is missing with the right colour. Which is why one does not notice the restoration when he has done it. It is the quality of his work that puts him among the handful of restorers in the world.
For this business, one must have the focus and dexterity of a surgeon as well as an instinctive feel for the original weaver’s intent. Samdani has these attributes. He himself develops the techniques, and methods required to do a job on each piece after assessing the nature and type of damage. He also trains his workers in the process. While he is training his employees, he tries to get them to go beyond the simple procedures. Samdani says, “Only a few of the workers can pick up what is required to work as a restorer because it is far different from weaving a carpet in the first place.”
The first assignment taken up by Azhar Samdani on the persuasion of B. A. Qureshi of Lahore Museum was the restoration of some 200 years old silk carpets for the Museum. While working on the silk carpets, Samdani researched extensively and taught himself what was needed to achieve perfection in the craft of restoration. It was during his research at the Karachi Archaeology Library that a former custodian of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s property urged him to take up the restoration of the Quaid’s rare carpets - Samdani’s claim to national fame. The proposal was made, and in spite of the typical bureaucratic sloth and misdemeanours, he took up the restoration of the 12 carpets that had been in the personal use of the Quaid-e-Azam. Thanks to Masood Nabi Noor, the then Secretary Sindh for his interest in getting the carpets restored, the carpets that had been in use in the Bombay House first and later in the Mohatta Palace, after restoration are now on display in the Quaid-e-Azam House and Museum in Karachi. Samdani so enjoyed the work on the Quaid’s carpets that he has documented the whole process in a soon to be published book titled “Restoration of the Quaid’s Rare Carpets.” Although the book is about the restoration of carpets now part of our national heritage it also offers an insight into the life of their user. Samdani says, “This (restoration of the Quaid’s carpets) was my way of paying tribute to Quid-e-Azam for what he did for us as a nation.”
Restoration is an exciting and daunting experience, sometimes very difficult if not impossible. Samdani derives inspiration from the Quaid’s life while taking up such challenging tasks. The restoration of a 22 square feet completely ruined Persian tapestry is one such example. “With the help of freehand pencil sketches it was identified that the rug had an image of a 100 Tuman Iranian currency note on it. A specimen of the out-of-circulation currency note was procured from the State Bank of Iran and transparencies were developed before cutting and balancing the woollen piles of the carpet and restoring it,” explained Azhar Samdani. Today, after the restoration of over 5,000 carpets during the last 30 years, the 72-year-old artisan enjoys a successful business with his clients spread over different countries, including America, Italy and France. Asked what the most important attribute is for a carpet restorer, Samdani answers: “Communication.” The clients sometime do not understand the type and nature of the work required to restore a carpet. “There is a big difference between the restoration of an old and a new carpet,” elucidates Samdani, “like a young person heals faster as compared to an old one. Similarly, preliminary visual assessments do not give the true estimates of the nature and amount of work required for the restoring of any damaged carpet nor do they reveal what the cost incurred will be nor the time that will be spent on completing the job. It is during the process of work that one comes to know about the so many hidden processes required for doing a successful job.” In this business, one is not really paid his value it seems.
Based in Lahore, Azhar brings to life antique carpets, a skill possessed by only a few in the world 
