Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, ...
Item Ref
BM2241
This magnificent storage bagface or 'chuval' was made by Ersary Turkmen in the region of Beshir during the third quarter of the nineteenth century.
Such large chuvals were normally made in pairs and used in nomadic life to store clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc. with each bag hung on the flanks of the camels during migrations. In this case, the bag has lost its plain-weave back, which I suspect was either damaged and removed or cut away by some unscrupulous dealer in Turkmenistan in order to make more money as a floor rug!
Nevertheless, this bagface is in excellent overall condition, with a beautiful range of natural colours including a subtle green and golden-yellow. |It has a tiny re-weave in one corner.
The Ersary Turkmen of Beshir suffered a harsh drought in the mid 19th century and, fearing for their survival, a young woman of the tribe was quoted as saying "We may lack water, but we can weave strength together".
With threads of wool from every family, she made a rug filled with protective symbols, blessings and signs of unity. When the rug was placed in the Khan's yurt, its presence inspired courage. Soon the rains returned and the tribe thrived, remembering that like the sacred threads, their strength lay in being bound together.
Size: 1.00m x 1.48m (3' 3" x 4' 10").
Such large chuvals were normally made in pairs and used in nomadic life to store clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc. with each bag hung on the flanks of the camels during migrations. In this case, the bag has lost its plain-weave back, which I suspect was either damaged and removed or cut away by some unscrupulous dealer in Turkmenistan in order to make more money as a floor rug!
Nevertheless, this bagface is in excellent overall condition, with a beautiful range of natural colours including a subtle green and golden-yellow. |It has a tiny re-weave in one corner.
The Ersary Turkmen of Beshir suffered a harsh drought in the mid 19th century and, fearing for their survival, a young woman of the tribe was quoted as saying "We may lack water, but we can weave strength together".
With threads of wool from every family, she made a rug filled with protective symbols, blessings and signs of unity. When the rug was placed in the Khan's yurt, its presence inspired courage. Soon the rains returned and the tribe thrived, remembering that like the sacred threads, their strength lay in being bound together.
Size: 1.00m x 1.48m (3' 3" x 4' 10").
£2,350
Antique At Torba Ilgich, Lakai Uzbeks, Shakrisabz, ...
Item Ref
BM2243
The Lakai Uzbeks were a semi-nomadic tribe, noted for their horse-breeding and fiercely independent.
They lived in what is now southern Uzbekistan and were noted for their embroideries reflecting their shamanistic roots. The symbolic motifs of swirling disks, spirals and stylised scorpions and spiders have a primal quality about them and exude a magical energy.
This beautiful late 19th century 'at torba ilgich' is very finely embroidered entirely in silk and backed with Russian printed-cotton lining and decorated with silk fringing.
Size: 60cm x 60cm (2' 0" x 2' 0").
They lived in what is now southern Uzbekistan and were noted for their embroideries reflecting their shamanistic roots. The symbolic motifs of swirling disks, spirals and stylised scorpions and spiders have a primal quality about them and exude a magical energy.
This beautiful late 19th century 'at torba ilgich' is very finely embroidered entirely in silk and backed with Russian printed-cotton lining and decorated with silk fringing.
Size: 60cm x 60cm (2' 0" x 2' 0").
£1,250
Antique Vanity-Bag, Timuri Tribes, Borderlands of North-East ...
Item Ref
BM2202
This fantastic 'chanteh' (vanity-bag) is tightly woven in soumak technique and incorporates a field of interlocking diamonds. Within each diamond, and extremely rare, is a cross 'X' woven in green, purple and red silk with the four outer crosses woven in gold thread - on both faces!
The top panels on both faces depict stylised birds, possibly cockerels, and the selvedges are extremely, tightly braided in very fine goat-hair.
The bag is in extremely good condition with its original silk-embroidered hanging cord.
This is an exceptional bag, made by Timuri tribes on the north-east Persian / north-west Afghanistan border region possibly around 1890-1900.
Size: 22cm x 23cm (8.50" x 9").
The top panels on both faces depict stylised birds, possibly cockerels, and the selvedges are extremely, tightly braided in very fine goat-hair.
The bag is in extremely good condition with its original silk-embroidered hanging cord.
This is an exceptional bag, made by Timuri tribes on the north-east Persian / north-west Afghanistan border region possibly around 1890-1900.
Size: 22cm x 23cm (8.50" x 9").
£1,100
Antique Vanity-Bag, Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, South ...
Item Ref
BM2219
This is certainly one of the cutest little 'chantehs' (vanity-bags) made by Afshar nomads in southern Persia circa 1900. The ivory field containing two beautifully-drawn 'botehs' and surrounded by stylised flower-heads, is woven in soumak technique.
The bag, completely original and in excellent condition, has a plain-weave back in narrow bands of natural colours and secured on each side by original braided selvedges, also in different natural colours.
Vanity-bags or 'chantehs' in Persian, were made for women's use only to contain coins and possibly a small mirror. They were highly-prized possessions, made for their own use and never intended for sale.
This one is very special.
Size: 14cm x 16cm (5.5" x 6.5").
The bag, completely original and in excellent condition, has a plain-weave back in narrow bands of natural colours and secured on each side by original braided selvedges, also in different natural colours.
Vanity-bags or 'chantehs' in Persian, were made for women's use only to contain coins and possibly a small mirror. They were highly-prized possessions, made for their own use and never intended for sale.
This one is very special.
Size: 14cm x 16cm (5.5" x 6.5").
£750
Antique Kurdish Tribal Rug, Kurds of Sa'uj ...
Item Ref
BM2206
The Kurds are one of the world's least-known ethnic groups and can be traced back to the dawn of antiquity.
Old Kurdish tribal weavings often have different dyed colours of wool weft in the same piece whereas the tribes of Sa'uj Bulagh near Sulaymania dyed the wool for their wefts, red or red-brown.
Nomadic Kurds often employed symbols such as hooked polygons within hexagonal forms, talismanic devices as well as human figures, as can be seen at the base of this exceptional rug.
Made in the environs of Sa'uj Bulagh during the third quarter of the nineteenth century, this area was famed for its fine lustrous wool and exquisite tribal rugs. The use of natural colours in this rug and exceptional white wool which can be seen in the outer minor border, shows the fabulous range of colours used by these nomads.
This rug is in very good overall condition, albeit with an evenly-low pile and a corroded brown field, which is generally found in these early rugs due to the iron-based mordant.
Nineteenth century rugs from the Kurds of Sa'uj Bolagh these days, are rare to come by, and this is truly a beautiful and very collectible rug.
Size: 2.00m x 1.30m (6' 6" x 4' 3")
Old Kurdish tribal weavings often have different dyed colours of wool weft in the same piece whereas the tribes of Sa'uj Bulagh near Sulaymania dyed the wool for their wefts, red or red-brown.
Nomadic Kurds often employed symbols such as hooked polygons within hexagonal forms, talismanic devices as well as human figures, as can be seen at the base of this exceptional rug.
Made in the environs of Sa'uj Bulagh during the third quarter of the nineteenth century, this area was famed for its fine lustrous wool and exquisite tribal rugs. The use of natural colours in this rug and exceptional white wool which can be seen in the outer minor border, shows the fabulous range of colours used by these nomads.
This rug is in very good overall condition, albeit with an evenly-low pile and a corroded brown field, which is generally found in these early rugs due to the iron-based mordant.
Nineteenth century rugs from the Kurds of Sa'uj Bolagh these days, are rare to come by, and this is truly a beautiful and very collectible rug.
Size: 2.00m x 1.30m (6' 6" x 4' 3")
£1,800
Antique Baluch Rug, Bahluli Sub-Tribe, Khorassan Province, ...
Item Ref
BM2232
This is an extremely rare, small rug, symmetrically knotted by the Bahluli tribe of Khorassan Province, north-east Persia circa 1870-1880.
Because of the small, squarish size, it makes me consider that this might have been made as a 'masnad' - a seating rug for the chief of the tribe to sit on.
The woollen pile is soft and lustrous throughout and what is particularly attractive is the myriad of small quadrupeds - deer or gazelle - dominating the field. Note too, the soft, madder-red ground containing a fabulous abrash in the top part of the field and surrounded by one simple, glowing blue main border.
The rug is in excellent condition and whether in the past it might have had kilim skirts, that we will never know!
This rug is unique and I haven't seen another like it.
Size: 1.00 x 0.95m (3' 3" x 3' 1").
Because of the small, squarish size, it makes me consider that this might have been made as a 'masnad' - a seating rug for the chief of the tribe to sit on.
The woollen pile is soft and lustrous throughout and what is particularly attractive is the myriad of small quadrupeds - deer or gazelle - dominating the field. Note too, the soft, madder-red ground containing a fabulous abrash in the top part of the field and surrounded by one simple, glowing blue main border.
The rug is in excellent condition and whether in the past it might have had kilim skirts, that we will never know!
This rug is unique and I haven't seen another like it.
Size: 1.00 x 0.95m (3' 3" x 3' 1").
£5,500
Antique Prayer-Rug, Daghestan, Eastern Caucasus.
Item Ref
BM2227
This beautiful prayer-rug was made in the Daghestan region of the eastern Caucasus in 1318 in the Islamic calendar which is 1900 in our Solar calendar. It comprises an ivory-ground mihrab within a beautiful madder-red field and depicting various symbols throughout. On either side of the mihrab are two small ivory squares with the date knotted in. The powerful golden-yellow main border contains a stylised continuous vine border symbolising the eternal cycle of life. The outer green border depicts the 'birds-heads' - guardians of the gates of Paradise.
A fabulous rug in near-mint condition.
Size: 1.64m x 1.25m (5' 5" x 4' 2").
A fabulous rug in near-mint condition.
Size: 1.64m x 1.25m (5' 5" x 4' 2").
£4,500
Book: Tribal Rugs - Treasures of ...
Item Ref
BM/Book
'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' was first published in 1997, followed by a second edition in 2010 and proving so poular, an up-dated third edition was published in 2017. This third edition is now nearing its end and, as I write, there are now less than 100 copies left.
My lifelong love of tribal rugs started in my early 20s in 1972 when I spent a year living with two nomadic tribes in southern Iran whilst carrying out survey work for two archaeological expeditions. After this amazing experience, I went on to work in Kerman until 1977, when it was time to leave with the Iranian Revolution in sight! After several years working in the London finance sector, I threw in the towel and opened Samarkand Galleries in Stow-on-the-Wold in the beautiful Cotswolds, where I still am today, although now working from home on-line.
With my love of tribal rugs, and regularly acquiring great examples, I spent approximately 10 years in my spare time, writing this book, dedicated to the pre-1900 carpets, rugs, kilims and weavings of the Persian, Transcaucasian, Afghan and Turkmen tribes.
The book is available from me and on-line at £50 plus postage.
My lifelong love of tribal rugs started in my early 20s in 1972 when I spent a year living with two nomadic tribes in southern Iran whilst carrying out survey work for two archaeological expeditions. After this amazing experience, I went on to work in Kerman until 1977, when it was time to leave with the Iranian Revolution in sight! After several years working in the London finance sector, I threw in the towel and opened Samarkand Galleries in Stow-on-the-Wold in the beautiful Cotswolds, where I still am today, although now working from home on-line.
With my love of tribal rugs, and regularly acquiring great examples, I spent approximately 10 years in my spare time, writing this book, dedicated to the pre-1900 carpets, rugs, kilims and weavings of the Persian, Transcaucasian, Afghan and Turkmen tribes.
The book is available from me and on-line at £50 plus postage.
£50
Antique Turkish Prayer-Rug, Konya, Central Anatolia.
Item Ref
BM/FL1
This handsome prayer-rug, made during the early to mid 19th century in Konya, central Anatolia, has a stunning red field and an equally attractive pea-green mihrab. The overall condition of the rug is very good albeit the pile is consistently, evenly-low all-over.
A truly beautiful and very collectible rug which would look stunning hanging on the wall.
Size: 1.60 x 1.08m (5' 3" x 3' 6").
A truly beautiful and very collectible rug which would look stunning hanging on the wall.
Size: 1.60 x 1.08m (5' 3" x 3' 6").
£3,500
Antique Turkmen Torba, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...
Item Ref
BM2221
This beautiful torba (small storage bag) was made by Yomut Turkmen in the Trans-Caspian Steppes during the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Torbas or small storage-bags were used by the Turkmen to contain small items of personal belongings, hung on the camels during migrations and then hung on the struts of the yurt during sedentary periods.
It has a rare field design of small symbolic guls (tribal crests) with superb shades of madder-red, natural ivory and indigo sky-blue. The torba, which is in excellent condition, retains its plain-weave back and the remains of the hanging cords and tassels at the base.
Size: 76cm x 41cm (2' 6" x 1' 4").
Torbas or small storage-bags were used by the Turkmen to contain small items of personal belongings, hung on the camels during migrations and then hung on the struts of the yurt during sedentary periods.
It has a rare field design of small symbolic guls (tribal crests) with superb shades of madder-red, natural ivory and indigo sky-blue. The torba, which is in excellent condition, retains its plain-weave back and the remains of the hanging cords and tassels at the base.
Size: 76cm x 41cm (2' 6" x 1' 4").
£1,250
Antique Turkmen Torba, Chowdur Tribe, Mangyshlak, Buzachi ...
Item Ref
BM/CT
A rare and beautiful torba (small storage bag) made by Chowdur tribes in the Mangyshlak, Buzachi and Volga regions of Turkmenistan circa 1870-1880. The Chowdur are a very old tribe and few of their antique weavings are found these days. The most conspicuous feature is the purple-brown ground colour and the use of the asymmetrical knot.
This torba has a rare field design and is in excellent condition, complete with plain-weave back and tassels.
Torbas were made for carrying small personal items and were tied to the flanks of the camels during migrations.
Size: 71cm x 36cm (2' 4" x 1' 2") excluding tassels.
This torba has a rare field design and is in excellent condition, complete with plain-weave back and tassels.
Torbas were made for carrying small personal items and were tied to the flanks of the camels during migrations.
Size: 71cm x 36cm (2' 4" x 1' 2") excluding tassels.
£1,500
Old Suzani 'Kerpich', Uzbek Tribes, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ...
Item Ref
BM2254
Referred to as a 'kerpich', this stunning Suzani incorporates the '3-balls' design, used by Tamerlane in his flag, symbolising strength and wisdom.
Embroidered in fine silk chain-stitch on a plain ivory cotton background, this beautiful suzani was made in the mid 1900s when a few Uzbek women went back to their ancient art of making fine suzanis in the old traditional way in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Size: 1.45m x 0.51m (4' 9" x 1' 8").
Embroidered in fine silk chain-stitch on a plain ivory cotton background, this beautiful suzani was made in the mid 1900s when a few Uzbek women went back to their ancient art of making fine suzanis in the old traditional way in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Size: 1.45m x 0.51m (4' 9" x 1' 8").
SOLD
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