The Hajji Baba Club is the oldest organization in the United States devoted to the study of oriental carpets and antique textiles. Founded in New York City in 1932, its original members included many collectors whose carpets and textiles now form principal holdings at several of our country’s major museums. Prominent collectors and textile scholars continue to be part of the HBC membership today, along with many other enthusiasts.
Since its founding, the HBC has met monthly for education, entertainment and camaraderie. Our meetings offer an opportunity to learn about antique carpets and textiles from lectures and presentations by national and international academics and collectors in the field. Members often bring interesting rugs and textiles to meetings so that others can enjoy them and offer their views. There is also an opportunity to dine with members, lecturers and other guests.
Our customary in-person monthly meetings moved to virtual meetings via the Zoom platform in 2020. Our current schedule includes zoom presentations that are free and open to the public. The recordings of these zoom presentations are recorded and available to members.
Throughout the season we offer in-person presentations in New York City for our members with the opportunity to have dinner together afterwards. The club also organizes members-only trips to both public institutions and private homes to provide members with an insider’s view of textiles not usually on display.
In 2008, in honor of our 75th anniversary, the HBC sponsored the exhibition and publication of “Timbuktu to Tibet: Exotic Rugs and Textiles from New York Collections.” Since 2019, we have sponsored a Research Fellowship supporting research in the field of carpet studies.
The Hajji Baba Club accepts new members and welcomes anyone interested. Membership is $75 per year for members residing in the Tri-state area and $35 for non-resident members. There is a one-time initiation fee of $75. These charges help cover the costs of our virtual presentations as well as honorariums paid to our speakers.