Antique Storage-Bag 'rakhtekhab-pich', Luri Bakhtiari Nomads, The ...
Item Ref
BM/RA
Large storage-bags called 'rakhtekhab-pich' by the Luri/Bakhtiari and 'mafrash' by the Turkic tribes, of this age and fine quality, are scarce these days. This complete bag is similar to a stunning pair of saddle-bags illustrated by James Opie in his 1992 edition of 'Tribal Rugs', page 111, showing the ivory cotton side panels and top flaps with the interlinking columns of double-headed sun-birds, symbolic guardians of the gates of Paradise.
Sometimes it's hard to visualise how these beautiful bags can be displayed in the home! To make the best out of them, they need to have either foam cut to the interior size of the bag thus showing the bag in its full glory or having a wooden frame built to house the interior of the bag. Only then, it can be seen as a fabulous piece of woven furniture in the house and making a wonderful talking-point.
Was £1850 now £1500.
Size: 140cm long x 66cm wide x 56cm deep (4' 7" long x 2' 2" wide x 1' 10" deep).
Sometimes it's hard to visualise how these beautiful bags can be displayed in the home! To make the best out of them, they need to have either foam cut to the interior size of the bag thus showing the bag in its full glory or having a wooden frame built to house the interior of the bag. Only then, it can be seen as a fabulous piece of woven furniture in the house and making a wonderful talking-point.
Was £1850 now £1500.
Size: 140cm long x 66cm wide x 56cm deep (4' 7" long x 2' 2" wide x 1' 10" deep).
£1,500
Antique Storage-Bag, Qashqa'i Nomads, Fars Province, South-West ...
Item Ref
BM1950
Illustrated in my 3rd edition 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent', this magnificent storage-bag or 'khour' in Persian, was woven in intricate complementary weft-weave technique by Qashqa'i nomads during the last quarter of the nineteenth century in Fars Province, south-west Persia.
The work, as described in my book, is exemplary, bearing in mind the bag was an everyday utilitarian item, used to contain and transport clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc. and shows the skill and artistry that went into making these bags. The sides, handles and loops at the top are bound in strong goat-hair for resilience.
This is a rare and beautiful work of nomadic art which has been in my personal collection for many years and to which I have now decided to part with - rather sadly!
Size: 90cm x 69cm (3' 0" x 2' 3").
The work, as described in my book, is exemplary, bearing in mind the bag was an everyday utilitarian item, used to contain and transport clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc. and shows the skill and artistry that went into making these bags. The sides, handles and loops at the top are bound in strong goat-hair for resilience.
This is a rare and beautiful work of nomadic art which has been in my personal collection for many years and to which I have now decided to part with - rather sadly!
Size: 90cm x 69cm (3' 0" x 2' 3").
£1,450
Antique Vanity-Bag, Qashqa'i Nomads, Fars Province, South-West ...
Item Ref
BM1983
Small vanity-bags or 'chanteh' in Persian, were made by young brides as part of their dowry, and used for keeping their personal belongings in such as jewellery, coins and fullers earth. They were highly-prized bags, never intended for sale in their lifetime and often handed down to their female children before they got married.
This fabulous bag, made by Qashqa'i nomads in Fars Province, south-west Persia circa 1880, has a sumptious knotted-pile with beautiful vegetable colours and a lattice design of symbolic motifs on the face. On the back are horizontal bands of red, blue and a stunning pea-green in plain-weave technique. The top opening retains its tie-slits in soumak technique with the remains of the ties on the inside.
This is a truly rare and amazing survivor of a long, lost art.
Size: 30cm (12") square.
This fabulous bag, made by Qashqa'i nomads in Fars Province, south-west Persia circa 1880, has a sumptious knotted-pile with beautiful vegetable colours and a lattice design of symbolic motifs on the face. On the back are horizontal bands of red, blue and a stunning pea-green in plain-weave technique. The top opening retains its tie-slits in soumak technique with the remains of the ties on the inside.
This is a truly rare and amazing survivor of a long, lost art.
Size: 30cm (12") square.
£1,450
Rare Antique Bag-Face, Timuri Tribes, Borderland of ...
Item Ref
BM/SJ4
This is one of the earliest types of design found on bags knotted by the Timuri tribes during the early 19th century. Once part of a double saddlebag, bag-faces like this are extremely rare.
The colours are beautifully saturated with highlights of an early aubergine colour and the four central panels contain pre-Islamic symbols, lost in the passage of time.
Very collectable.
Size:- 59cm x 46cm (2' 0" x 1' 6").
The colours are beautifully saturated with highlights of an early aubergine colour and the four central panels contain pre-Islamic symbols, lost in the passage of time.
Very collectable.
Size:- 59cm x 46cm (2' 0" x 1' 6").
£1,350
Antique Pillow-Bag, Timuri Tribes, Borderlands of North-East ...
Item Ref
BM/Balisht
Pillow-bags or 'balisht' as they are known in Iran, were made with the finest, soft, lustrous wool on which to rest the head or lounge on during sedentary periods on migrations. These pillow-bags were generally filled with cotton to plump out the bag thus creating a pillow.
This is a very beautiful late 19th century balisht compleate with plain-weave back and with a superb array of natural colours in what can be expected, using the softest wool. Each end of the bag is finished in weft-float brocade and albeit with some minor wear at one end, the bag is in remarkably good condition.
Complete 19th century balisht are a relatively rare find these days and this one was made by Timuri tribes in the borderlands of north-eastern Persia and north-western Afghanistan.
Size:76cm x 36cm (2' 6" x 1' 2") approx.
This is a very beautiful late 19th century balisht compleate with plain-weave back and with a superb array of natural colours in what can be expected, using the softest wool. Each end of the bag is finished in weft-float brocade and albeit with some minor wear at one end, the bag is in remarkably good condition.
Complete 19th century balisht are a relatively rare find these days and this one was made by Timuri tribes in the borderlands of north-eastern Persia and north-western Afghanistan.
Size:76cm x 36cm (2' 6" x 1' 2") approx.
£1,250
Antique Vanity-Bag, Baluch Jehan Begi Tribe, Khorassan ...
Item Ref
BM2027
This stunning, double-sided small vanity-bag was woven by the Baluch Jehan Begi tribe at the end of the nineteenth century. It is in complete, excellent condition and woven in tight soumak technique.
This is a very good example of the type.
Size: 44cm x 48cm (1' 5" x 1' 7").
This is a very good example of the type.
Size: 44cm x 48cm (1' 5" x 1' 7").
£1,250
Antique Saddlebag-face, Afshar Nomads of Aqta', Kerman ...
Item Ref
BM2083
This beautiful bag-face is an early example of Afshar work, dating to circa 1870 from Aqta' in the province of Kerman, south Persia. The golden-yellow main border is very interesting and one needs to look closely to see the depiction of two birds, opposing each other on either side of a stylised 'tree of life' on the top and bottom borders and on the side borders, camels opposing each other. These are popular symbols amongst the Afshar tribes. The field design seems to comprise a highly stylised lotus blossom amid vegetal patterns embellished with geometrical motifs but it might also stem from the open-winged eagle - an ancient Persian motif. Once part of a double saddle-bag, this face is all that remains. The superb, vegetable-dye colours are beautifully saturated and it is in very good pile all over.
Size: 61cm x 56cm (2' 0" x 1' 10").
Size: 61cm x 56cm (2' 0" x 1' 10").
£1,200
Antique Pillow-Bag, Baluch Tribes, Khorassan Province, North-East ...
Item Ref
BM/RP4
Just in is this beautiful 'balisht' or pillow-bag, made by Baluch tribes in the province of Khorassan, north-east Persia around 1900. Balishts had to be finely knotted using the very best glossy wool, bearing in mind their purpose as a pillow where the head was placed during sleep. Balishts were also used for lounging on inside the tent during the day and evening. This handsome balisht has a natural camel-hair field with stylised 'tree-of-life' rising up from the underworld, through the earthly world and into the realms of the spirit.
Few balishts that come on the market these days are complete with their plain-weave backs, unlike this fabulous one which does have its plain-weave back and is in excellent condition.
Size: 88cm x 50cm (2' 11" x 1' 8").
Few balishts that come on the market these days are complete with their plain-weave backs, unlike this fabulous one which does have its plain-weave back and is in excellent condition.
Size: 88cm x 50cm (2' 11" x 1' 8").
£1,200
Antique Vanity-Bag, Qoraba'i Tribes, Bardsir Region, Kerman ...
Item Ref
BM2032
Often referred to as 'Afshar', these beautiful 'chantehs' (vanity-bags) with the paired botehs, according to Parviz Tanavoli, are the work of the Qoraba'i nomads, neighbours of the Afshar in the region of Bardsir in southern Persia. This charming little bag, made around 1910-1920, is in complete condition with original madder-red plain-weave back, braided hanging cord and tassels around the sides and botton, albeit with some missing. These tassels can be replaced so please ask if this is required.
The botehs, I believe, are fertility symbols, where the ivory one represents the male and the dark-red boteh, the female. Also note the stylised birds in the centre of each boteh and what appears to be a winged creature within each boteh.
A very collectable little bag, recently found in southern Iran.
31cm x 50cm (12" x 20").
The botehs, I believe, are fertility symbols, where the ivory one represents the male and the dark-red boteh, the female. Also note the stylised birds in the centre of each boteh and what appears to be a winged creature within each boteh.
A very collectable little bag, recently found in southern Iran.
31cm x 50cm (12" x 20").
£1,100
Antique Vanity-Bag, Qashqa'i - Kashkuli Tribe, Fars ...
Item Ref
BM2030
This is one of the finest woven little vanity-bags - 'chanteh' in Persian - that I've ever handled.
Woven by a woman of the Kashkuli taifeh, Qashqa'i Confederacy during the second half 19th century in Fars, south-west Persia, the incredibly fine soumak weave on the face is astounding. Sadly, there is some minor damage to the lower 'birds-heads' lozenge, as can be seen in the close-up photo, but this still doesn't detract from the overall beauty and rarity of this piece.
The back of the chanteh, which also has some damage, is woven in madder-red plain-weave with intricate weft-float brocade at the very top.
Apart from the damage, this is a truly beautiful and very collectable little bag.
Size: 28cm x 28cm (11" x 11").
Woven by a woman of the Kashkuli taifeh, Qashqa'i Confederacy during the second half 19th century in Fars, south-west Persia, the incredibly fine soumak weave on the face is astounding. Sadly, there is some minor damage to the lower 'birds-heads' lozenge, as can be seen in the close-up photo, but this still doesn't detract from the overall beauty and rarity of this piece.
The back of the chanteh, which also has some damage, is woven in madder-red plain-weave with intricate weft-float brocade at the very top.
Apart from the damage, this is a truly beautiful and very collectable little bag.
Size: 28cm x 28cm (11" x 11").
£950
Antique Jaf - Kurdish Saddlebag-Face, Jaf Tribes, ...
Item Ref
BM2048
The juxtaposition here of fabulous vegetable dyes is a nomadic work of knotted art.
Made circa 1870-1880 by Jaf - Kurds in Persian Kurdistan, this bagface was once one half of a large double saddlebag, which at some point in the past, both parts were separated, either by heavy wear or by unscrupulous dealers cutting the saddlebags in half where more money could be made individually rather than as one complete piece!
Nevertheless, the face of this bag has been saved, in very good condition, hopefully for countless generations to enjoy the fabulous colours. Particularly interesting is the '8-pointed star' border - symbols of protection.
Size: 68cm deep x 80cm wide (2' 3" x 2' 7").
Made circa 1870-1880 by Jaf - Kurds in Persian Kurdistan, this bagface was once one half of a large double saddlebag, which at some point in the past, both parts were separated, either by heavy wear or by unscrupulous dealers cutting the saddlebags in half where more money could be made individually rather than as one complete piece!
Nevertheless, the face of this bag has been saved, in very good condition, hopefully for countless generations to enjoy the fabulous colours. Particularly interesting is the '8-pointed star' border - symbols of protection.
Size: 68cm deep x 80cm wide (2' 3" x 2' 7").
£875
Antique Half Saddle-Bag, Qashqa'i Ard Kapan Taifeh, ...
Item Ref
BM1968
The stylised 'scorpion' depicted on an attractive ivory central lozenge send a powerful message to live scorpions - keep off!! Whilst living with the Qashqa'i back in the early 1970s, I remember an elderly Qashqa'i woman explaining to me that weaving scorpions into their rugs and bags was to ward off live scorpions! I can say that sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't!!
This extremely attractive half saddle-bag was made by the Ard Kapan taifeh of the Qashqa'i confederation towards the end of the nineteenth century and is in excellent condition.
Was £1100 now £975.
Size: 56cm x 56cm (1' 10" x 1' 10").
This extremely attractive half saddle-bag was made by the Ard Kapan taifeh of the Qashqa'i confederation towards the end of the nineteenth century and is in excellent condition.
Was £1100 now £975.
Size: 56cm x 56cm (1' 10" x 1' 10").
£850
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