Long-form scholarship and short news from the HALI editorial desk — published continuously between the four print quarterlies.
A fresh approach turned a recent French exhibition on Qajar culture into something more than just an art show. Venetia Porter was at the Louvre-Lens to experience the transformation. Hadi Maktabi comments on the carpets.

This dynamic Anatolian ‘Lotto’ rug was a gift from James F. Ballard to the Saint Louis Art Museum. Here we look at the characteristics of the type.
David Young · 3 min
Clare Browne tells the story of a set of 14th-century needlework panels with scenes from the Life of the Virgin.
David Young · 3 min
The silk embroidered shawls of the Punjab combine the aesthetic of folk art with the rich varied silk hues of precious luxury. Ben Evans reveals the techniques and traditions lying below the surface of these vibrant textiles.

A small Afshar rug from the Corwin Collection is dissected by Thomas Cole.

The cultivation of indigo dye across the Indian subcontinent is growing. Here Jenny Balfour Paul recounts her experience at Indigo Sutra, an international event on the revival and resurgence of natural indigo held in Kolkata.