Antique Mini Khorjin 'saddle-bags', Shahsevan Nomads, Moghan ...

Item Ref
BM/RP5

Just in from a private collection, a fabulous pair of mini saddle-bags - 'khorjin' in Persian - woven by Shahsevan nomads during the third quarter of the nineteenth century in the Moghan region of Azerbaijan.
These magnificent saddle-bags are finely woven in soumak technique on both bag faces with the back in madder-red, plain-weave technique. The lappits and woollen loops are intact and the bag is complete and in excellent condition. This is a rare and very collectable pair of saddle-bags.
Size: 67cm x 28cm (2' 2" x 11").
£2,750

Antique Saddlebag-Face, Shahsevan Nomads, Moghan Region, Persian ...

Item Ref
BM1956

This is the last one of a pair of early to mid nineteenth century saddle-bag faces, woven in reverse-soumak technique by Shahsevan nomads in the Moghan plain. The colours are beautifully old and saturated in this half of what was once a full khorjin (saddle-bags). The other half is illustrated on my website under the reference BM1738(b).
These are highly collectable weavings from an early period of Shahsevan production.
Size: 48cm x 48cm (1' 7" x 1' 7").
£750

Antique Salt-Bag, Shahsevan Nomads of Moghan, Azerbaijan. ...

Item Ref
LPN5

The Shahsevan woman who made this magnificent salt-bag (namakdan) was without any doubt, at the very peak of her weaving ability. I can't say enough, how fantastic this bag is.
Woven around 1900 by Shahsevan nomads in the Moghan region of Azerbaijan, the bag is complete and in fact, in near-mint condition. I would stab a guess and say it was a dowry weaving, highly-prized and probably hardly used - maybe kept in a boksche (wedding bag) until it was sold. The weaving, in soumak technique, is as fine as one is likely to find.
Size: 46cm x 46cm (1' 6" x 1'6").
SOLD

Antique Saddle-Bag-Face, Shahsevan Tribes, Azerbaijan

Item Ref
BM573

This rare and early Shahsevan piled saddle-bag face with good natural colours has been washed and restored. Highly collectable!
Sizes: 56cm x 61cm (1' 10" x 2' 0") each.
SOLD

Antique Saddle-Bag Face, Shahsevan Tribes, Azerbaijan

Item Ref
BM573

The pair to the previous saddle-bag face, made by Shahsevan tribes in Azerbaijan around the 1850s. The bagface is in knotted-pile with some of the outer minor border missing on the left side and at the bottom. Nevertheless, this is a rare, early and very collectable example of the piled Shahsevan saddle bags.
Size: 56cm x 61cm (1' 10" x 2' 0") each.
SOLD

Antique Salt-Bag, Shahsevan Nomads, Moghan Region, Azerbaijan. ...

Item Ref
BM/LPN12

Just arrived from a UK private collection, this magnificent 'namakdan' (salt-bag), is a rare example woven in soumak technique, by a Shahsevan nomad in the Moghan region of Azerbaijan circa 1870-1880.
The bag is completely original with plain-weave back in traditional narrow horizontal bands of madder-red and deep indigo-blue and the sides are over-bound in different colours with original vegetable-dye wool.
The main body of the bag comprises of double-headed sun-birds, symbolically the guardians of the gates of Paradise, and a popular design amongst the Moghan Shahsevan.
Size: 43cm 33cm (1' 5" x 1' 1").
SOLD

Antique Bag-Face, Shahsevan Nomads of Moghan, Azerbaijan. ...

Item Ref
BM1676

A very fine and possibly late 18th or early 19th century bag-face, woven in soumak technique by Shahsevan nomads in the Moghan region of Azerbaijan.
The indigo-blue background contains stylised 'dragons' or 'peacocks' - a design that ranks highly amongst collectors worldwide.
The plain-weave back is missing but the tie-lappits remain.
Size: 53cm x 56cm (1' 9" x 1' 10").
SOLD

Antique Mafrash (cargo-bag), Shahsevan Nomads, Moghan Region, ...

Item Ref
BM/VK

Mafrash or cargo-bags were usually made in pairs, packed with clothing and bedding and strapped to the flanks of the camel during long migrations. This stunning mafrash was intricately woven by Shahsevan nomads during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The simplicity of the design - three large 'birds-heads' lozenges on the side panels and one on the end panels, is powerful and dramatic. The mafrash is complete and in original condition.
SOLD

Antique Namakdan (salt-bag), Shahsevan Nomads, Azerbaijan.

Item Ref
BM/LPN11

This namakdan (salt-bag), woven in flat-weave technique by Shahsevan nomads circa 1900, contains a field of hooked lozenges, disappearing under the border and out into infinity.
The bag is in mint condition bar a break in the braided handle which has been repaired. The back is in typical plain-weave technique with horizontal bands of different colours.
Size: 41cm x 35cm (1' 4" x 1' 2").
SOLD

Antique Chanteh (Vanity Bag), Shahsevan Tribes, North-West ...

Item Ref
BM796

This very old and rare Vanity Bag ('Chanteh' in Persian) was woven by Shahsevan nomads in north-western Persia around 1850. The finely executed soumack technique is indicative of a tribe that produced probably the very best flat-woven work up until the end of the 19th century. The front top of the plain-weave section of the bag is expertly re-woven as is the lower section of the back.
Size: 25cm x 25cm (10" x 10").
SOLD

Antique Saddle-Bags, Shahsevan Nomads, Azerbaijan.

Item Ref

These are a fantastic pair of saddle-bags. Woven by Shahsevan nomads in Azerbaijan in the second half 19th century, they are complete with original plain-weave back. The intricate soumack weave all over is just amazing when you think such bags were entirely utilitarian. The colours too, are vibrant vegetable-dye and the design in the central field consist of a myriad of 'birds[heads' lozenges - guardians of the gates of Paradise!
Size: 1.57m x 0.56m (5' 2" x 1' 10").
SOLD

Antique Dining Sofreh, Shahsevan Tribes of Varamin, ...

Item Ref
BM/S1

Spectacular! A rare natural green field comprising a magnificent lozenge in the centre which I suspect symbolises flowing water, all important in nomadic life with bread and salt.
Woven around 1900-1910, this sofreh was made by Shahsevan nomads in the environs of Veramin in north-west Persia. The dining sofreh, as the name implies, was used to spread on the floor of the tent during mealtimes, or in the presence of special guests or dignitaries, and bowls of food, bread, goats cheese, herbs and tea placed upon it. the nomads and their guests would sit cross-legged around the sofreh, eating and conversing.
I love it and I've had trouble parting with it!!
Size: 1.10m x 0.77m (3' 7" x 2' 6").
SOLD