Antique Saddle-Bag Face, Timuri Nomads, Western Afghanistan. ...
Item Ref
SJ7
Here we see a beautiful example of the highly collectable 'cockerel' bags - once part of a double saddle-bag but what remains is one face minus outer borders. Made by Timuri nomads in western Afghanistan circa 1870, the stylised cockerels symbolise the harbinger of the day and the dispeller of the night. A very collectable little bag face.
Size: 54cm x 59cm (1' 9" x 1' 11").
Size: 54cm x 59cm (1' 9" x 1' 11").
SOLD
Antique Bag-Face, Baluch Tribes, Khorassan Province, North-East ...
Item Ref
SJ4
This very interesting half saddle-bag face is unusual in its field elements where it appears that possibly a young weaver started knotting a 'bird-like' motif (see lower area where she started) and appeared to get a bit confused with the drawing of this motif until later on, half-way up the bag, she then produces a more accurate symbol. The field is full of '5' symbols or 'quincunx' - symbolising protection to the contents of the bag. The two quincunx, two up from the bottom, are highlighted in yellow as opposed to ivory. Wonderful deep shades abound in the field of aubergine, madder-red, turquoise and indigo. The bag-face which was made by Baluch nomads in the province of Khorassan, possibly mid 19th century, is in good overall condition bar two small, old re-weaves.
Size: 70cm x 70cm (2' 4" x 2' 4").
Size: 70cm x 70cm (2' 4" x 2' 4").
SOLD
Antique Vanity-Bag (chanteh), Qashqa'i Nomads, Fars Province, ...
Item Ref
BM/ANR
Just found, a very fine chanteh (vanity-bag) of the Qashqa'i nomads of Fars, south-west Persia, made around 1890-1900. The bag is complete in very fine knotted-pile, lustrous wool and a fabulous plain-weave back in two shades of vegetable-dye green. The overall design on the knotted-pile front consists of a myriad of '8-pointed' stars disappearing under the borders and out into infinity. The base of the bag is beautifully brocaded in typical Qashqa'i quincunx pattern.
Size: 30cm x 28cm (12" x 11").
Size: 30cm x 28cm (12" x 11").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Rug, Teke Tribes, Merv Oasis, ...
Item Ref
BM/MH
This exceptional Teke Turkmen rug is extremely finely knotted with superior wool and made circa 1870 in the Merv Oasis, Turkmenistan. The beautiful madder-red is just stunning and ranks amongst the very best colour in Teke work.
Size: 1.83m x 1.04m (6' 0" x 3' 5").
Size: 1.83m x 1.04m (6' 0" x 3' 5").
SOLD
Antique Salt-Bag, Uzbek Tribes, Uzbekistan.
Item Ref
BMac9
Salt-Bags (namakdan) of the Uzbek nomads are rare. Their purpose was purely utilitarian and used for containing lumps of rock-salt, given to their animals during long migrations to help in the dehydration process. This extremely fine bag in plain-weave technique has an exciting visual appearance with the zig-zag pattern probably representing flowing water - a necessity in their daily lives. The bag is in excellent condition with plain-weave back and original tassels, inserted for good luck and made circa 1900. All the dyes are natural with a lovely use of golden yellow throughout.
Size: 53cm x 36cm (1' 9" x 1' 2") excluding tassels.
Size: 53cm x 36cm (1' 9" x 1' 2") excluding tassels.
SOLD
Antique Salt-Bag, Kazak Mountains Region, South-West Caucasus. ...
Item Ref
BMac6
Having been in my own collection for many years, I have found a rug I want to keep and have been in a dilemma as to whether or not I sell this rare and beautiful 'namakdan' (salt-bag) as I need to downsize only a little! Anyway, decision made and here it is, a rare salt-bag made in the Kazak Mountains of the south-west Caucasus circa 1900. The bag is complete with its original plain-weave back and braided hanging cords. I love the knotted-pile face with its 'Kazak lozenge' in the centre and the depiction of a double-headed quadruped and peacock in the neck. The glowing sky-blue 'medakhyl' border frames the madder-red field beautifully. A very collectable little bag which I hope will go to a good home!
Size: 51cm x 42cm (1' 8" x 1' 4").
Size: 51cm x 42cm (1' 8" x 1' 4").
SOLD
Antique Gabbeh, Qashqa'i Nomads, Fars Province, South-West ...
Item Ref
BMac5
Antique 'gabbehs' - thickly-piled rugs for everyday use in the tents and for wrapping up children during the long, cold winter nights - are very rare today. I found this one in the north of England in a filthy state and have since had it thoroughly washed and restored. The result is quite amazing, with the fabulous natural colours glowing and the wool soft and lustrous. Even the original braided end finishes remain intact!
Gabbehs were simplistic in every way - designed to be made quickly and for hard use on the floors of the tents. The designs were the weavers' own art - what they wanted to create and what they saw around them in terms of the colours of the landscape such as the sun setting over the mountains etc. - not in any way following the elegant and probably later weavings with their specific tribal symbols and identity. I love this gabbeh and I hope you will too!
Size: 2.08m x 1.31m (6' 10" x 4' 4").
Gabbehs were simplistic in every way - designed to be made quickly and for hard use on the floors of the tents. The designs were the weavers' own art - what they wanted to create and what they saw around them in terms of the colours of the landscape such as the sun setting over the mountains etc. - not in any way following the elegant and probably later weavings with their specific tribal symbols and identity. I love this gabbeh and I hope you will too!
Size: 2.08m x 1.31m (6' 10" x 4' 4").
SOLD
Old Dining Sofreh, Kamo, Central Persia.
Item Ref
BMac4
I love the simplistic visual attractiveness of the sofrehs from the village area of Kamo in central Iran. This one, not dissimilar to the one on the front cover of my recently printed 3rd edition book 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent', depicts mountains and I suspect, rivers flowing through the area, absolutely charming in every way. However, in my years of dealing and handling Kamo sofrehs, I have never seen a 'dining' sofreh - those are the longer, narrow flat-weaves which were used to spread on the floor at mealtimes and bread, bowls of food, tea etc. spread out on the dining sofreh whilst the tribes-people would sit around cross-legged. All the sofrehs I have seen and handled have been 3'-4' square 'bread' sofrehs - used for kneading the dough on. This is therefore a rare and stunning flat-weave in excellent original condition.
Size: 1.38m x 0.58m (4' 6" x 1' 11").
Size: 1.38m x 0.58m (4' 6" x 1' 11").
SOLD
Antique Baluch Rug, Mahdad Khani Tribe, Khorassan ...
Item Ref
BMac 1
The fabulous colours in this 19th century Mahdad Khani Baluch glow like oil floating on water!
I just love the juxtaposition of madder-red, deep indigo-blue and my favourite sky-blue.
The rug has superb shiny wool, vegetable colours and is in very good condition.
Size: 1.74m x 0.92m (5' 8" x 3' 0").
I just love the juxtaposition of madder-red, deep indigo-blue and my favourite sky-blue.
The rug has superb shiny wool, vegetable colours and is in very good condition.
Size: 1.74m x 0.92m (5' 8" x 3' 0").
SOLD
Pair of Antique Turkmen Kaps, Yomut Tribes, ...
Item Ref
BM/JS
A rare and beautiful pair of small storage bags (kaps) made by Yomut Turkmen in the Trans-Caspian Steppes, Turkmenistan, during the third quarter 19th century. 'Kaps' are very rare and can be found individually now and again, but finding a pair is even rarer. These kaps are complete with plain-weave backs.
Size: 44cm x 25cm (1' 5" x 10") each.
Size: 44cm x 25cm (1' 5" x 10") each.
SOLD
Antique Qashqa'i Carpet, Fars Province, South-west Persia. ...
Item Ref
BM1312
This fabulous 19th century Qashqa'i tribal small carpet is in excellent condition and made by the Amaleh or Arab Cherpanlu taifeh. The field incorporates a myriad of the so-called Qashqa'i 'scorpion' design - where the scorpion woven and knotted into rugs and weavings is supposed to ward off live scorpions! In my experience, sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't!! The weave is very fine and the wool quality soft, glossy and very pliable. A stunning carpet.
Size: 2.44m x 1.40m (8' 0" x 4' 7").
Size: 2.44m x 1.40m (8' 0" x 4' 7").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Torba, Ersary Tribes, Turkmenistan, Central ...
Item Ref
BM/JS1
The wool quality in this torba is soft, lustrous and glossy. In very good condition, it was made by Ersary Turkmen circa 1900.
Size:
Size:
SOLD
Antique Salt-Bag, Shahsevan Nomads, Azerbaijan.
Item Ref
BM/MS
This charming salt-bag (namakdan) has a knotted-pile face and a plain-weave back in horizontal bands of coloured wool and white cotton.
Size:
Size:
SOLD
Antique Khamseh Confederacy Rug, Baharlu Taifeh, South-West ...
Item Ref
BM/ST1
Made around 1870-1880, this stunning rug of the Baharlu nomads within the Khamseh Confederacy tribes, is in excellent overall condition, even retaining its original skirts at each end. The field consists of pomegranates and the vegetable colours are superb.
Size: 1.96m x 1.17m (6' 5" x 3' 10").
Size: 1.96m x 1.17m (6' 5" x 3' 10").
SOLD
Antique Khamseh Confederacy Rug, Arab Jabareh Taifeh, ...
Item Ref
BM/SC1
This charming little rug was made by the Arab Jabareh tribe of the Khamseh Confederacy around 1890-1900. It comprises a myriad of birds, chickens, double-headed sun-birds and two human figures in the centre. The indigo-blue field glows and the rug is in excellent condition.
Size: 1.53m x 1.07m (5' 0" x 3' 6").
Size: 1.53m x 1.07m (5' 0" x 3' 6").
SOLD
Antique Qashqa'i Rug, Kashkuli Tribe, Fars Province, ...
Item Ref
BM/GT2
An early and extremely finely knotted Qashqa'i rug made by the Kashkuli taifeh during the mid 19th century. The madder-red field contains a myriad of 'botehs' - flame symbols originating in Zoraostrianism and which are the proto-type of the Kashmiri shawl and Paisley patterns - which continue into the pea-green spandrels. Sadly, part of the upper and lower red outer borders are missing but otherwise, the rug is in good overall condition.
Size: 1.65m x 1.10m (5' 5" x 3' 7").
Size: 1.65m x 1.10m (5' 5" x 3' 7").
SOLD
Antique Early Caucasian Rug, Shirvan, East Caucasus. ...
Item Ref
BM/GT1
Here we see one of the earliest of the so-called 'shield' design rugs from the Shirvan region, eastern Caucasus, dating to the early 19th century. The yellow field is rare and beautiful, and contains a myriad of symbolic shapes throughout - the dark-brown symbols having fairly heavy corrosion due to the iron mordant. Nevertheless, the rug is complete with evenly-low pile all over. Highly collectable.
Size: 1.22m x 1.16m (4' 0" x 3' 10").
Size: 1.22m x 1.16m (4' 0" x 3' 10").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Rug, Teke Tribes, Merv Oasis, ...
Item Ref
BM/GD
This is one of the finest knotted Teke rugs I've had the pleasure of handling. The wool quality is the very best - soft, lustrous and glossy. The natural madder-red colour is as good as it gets! Fabulous.
Size: 1.62m x 1.14m (5' 4" x 3' 9")
Size: 1.62m x 1.14m (5' 4" x 3' 9")
SOLD
Antique Bakhtiari Rug, The Chahar Mahal, Western ...
Item Ref
BM/DR
A visually exciting example of Chahr Mahal Bakhtiari work comprising a beautifully-drawn 'tree-of-life' rising up from the underworld, through the earthly world and the branches in the world of the spirit. Birds sit atop the branches and symbolically represent the carriers of the soul. At the base of the tree, sit two handsome peacocks, symbols of immortality and divine protection. The rug is in excellent overall condition and the selvedges have been expertly replaced due to wear on the originals.
Size: 2.13m x 1.38m (7' 0" x 4' 6").
Size: 2.13m x 1.38m (7' 0" x 4' 6").
SOLD
Antique Afshar Tribal Rug, Kerman Province, South ...
Item Ref
BM/JA
This charming little square rug was probably a 'masnad' - a rug specifically made for visiting dignitaries such as the Shah or Khan to sit on when visiting this particular group of Afshar nomads at the end of the 19th century. The simple madder-red field is visually attractive as is the flower, bursting into life in the very centre - the mirror image of two vases emanating upwards at each end. Overall, the rug has an evenly low pile but no areas of severe wear, thus the reasonable price.
Size: 1.37m x 1.27m (4' 6" x 4' 2").
Size: 1.37m x 1.27m (4' 6" x 4' 2").
SOLD
Antique Ceremonial Saddle-Cover, Afshar Tribes, Kerman Province, ...
Item Ref
BM/B
A recent arrival from Iran is this truly superb ceremonial saddle-cover made by Afshar nomads in Kerman province, south Persia, during the first period of the 20th century. The cut-out section is for the cantle, with decorative tassels intended to hang down at the back side of the saddle. The main section, all in lustrous, glossy vegetable-dye wool, depicts a myriad of seated camels on an indigo-blue background. Mint condition!
Size: 91cm x 89cm (3' 0" x 2' 11").
Size: 91cm x 89cm (3' 0" x 2' 11").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Torba, Ersary Tribes, Turkmenistan, Central ...
Item Ref
BM/SC
This charming little torba - personal belongings bag - was made by Ersary Turkmen nomads around 1900. It contains two large and powerful Ersary guls (tribal crests) in the centre and is complete with braided hanging cords. It is in excellent condition with soft, glossy wool and complete with plain-weave back.
Size: 109m x 0.48m (3' 7" x 1' 7").
Size: 109m x 0.48m (3' 7" x 1' 7").
SOLD
Antique Prayer-Rug, Timuri Tribes, Western Afghanistan.
Item Ref
BM/AE1
This must rank as one of the very best 19th century Timuri prayer-rugs I've had the great pleasure of owning for a very short while. I knew as soon as it was advertised, it would fly out - like the proverbial flying carpet! The condition was near-mint - beautiful soft, glossy vegetable-dye wool and complete with flat-woven skirts. It was previously acquired in the 1940s from a well-known carpet dealer in the West End of London and found its way to the Antipodes. I find myself very lucky to acquire it and now pass it on to someone who will, I know, treasure it.
Size: 1.50m x 1.20m (4' 11" x 3' 11").
Size: 1.50m x 1.20m (4' 11" x 3' 11").
SOLD
Antique Flat-Weave, Labijar/Maimana, Northern Afghanistan.
Item Ref
BM1269
A visual masterpiece from the Labijar/Maimana region of northern Afghanistan in excellent condition and dating to the early 20th century.
Size: 4.25m x 1.90m (14' 0" x 6' 3").
Size: 4.25m x 1.90m (14' 0" x 6' 3").
SOLD
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