Antique Turkmen Engsi, Yomut Tribe, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...
Item Ref
BM2133
This magnificent Turkmen 'engsi' - yurt door-rug - was made by the Yomut tribes in the trans-Caspian Steppes, Turkmenistan during the mid 19th century.
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
£2,950
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 Dining Flat-Weave 'Sofreh', Kordi Tribes of ...
Item Ref
BM2127
Just arrived from Mashad, north-eastern Iran, this handsome dining flat-weave or 'sofreh' in Persian, with its natural camel-hair field and beautifully brocaded skirts at each end.
Made during the first half of the 20th century, this sofreh, if ever used, would have been made to spread out on the floor of the tent or mud-brick dwelling and food placed upon it at mealtimes. The Kordi tribes-people would then sit around the sofreh cross-legged and enjoy good food and conversation.
The Kordi tribes are of Kurdish origin with around 4,000 people having been forcibly moved from Kurdistan into Khorassan by Shah Isma'il during the 1524-1576 period in order to strengthen and protect the area from the marauding Turkmen!
Size: 2.67m x 1.00m (8' 9" x 3' 3").
Made during the first half of the 20th century, this sofreh, if ever used, would have been made to spread out on the floor of the tent or mud-brick dwelling and food placed upon it at mealtimes. The Kordi tribes-people would then sit around the sofreh cross-legged and enjoy good food and conversation.
The Kordi tribes are of Kurdish origin with around 4,000 people having been forcibly moved from Kurdistan into Khorassan by Shah Isma'il during the 1524-1576 period in order to strengthen and protect the area from the marauding Turkmen!
Size: 2.67m x 1.00m (8' 9" x 3' 3").
£1,450
Antique Vanity-Bag, Qashqa'i - Kashkuli Tribe, Fars ...
Item Ref
BM/QC
Extremely finely woven in a technique known as 'soumak' weave, this beautiful little vanity-bag ('chanteh' in Persian) must have been very special to its owner. Bags like this were used by women entirely and would have held jewellery, mirrors or coins.
Today, bags like this are no longer made and thus becoming very scarce within Iran and very collectible in the West amongst connoisseurs of small antique tribal weavings.
This chanteh was made by Kashkuli nomads, part of the Qashqa'i Confederacy, in the province of Fars in south-west Persia circa 1900. The chanteh is in excellent condition, complete with tassels symbolising good luck and happiness.
Size: 23cm x 23cm (9" x 9") excluding tassels.
Today, bags like this are no longer made and thus becoming very scarce within Iran and very collectible in the West amongst connoisseurs of small antique tribal weavings.
This chanteh was made by Kashkuli nomads, part of the Qashqa'i Confederacy, in the province of Fars in south-west Persia circa 1900. The chanteh is in excellent condition, complete with tassels symbolising good luck and happiness.
Size: 23cm x 23cm (9" x 9") excluding tassels.
£750
Antique Vanity-Bag, Afshar Nomads, Kerman Provincde, Southern ...
Item Ref
BM/GD
Small, exceptional vanity-bags or 'chanteh' in Persian, have become very scarce, not only in Iran but also in the Western markets. What I am talking about here is chantehs made by the nomadic Persian tribes from the 19th century through to the early 20th century. Why is this? Because plastic bags arrived in the bazaars of Persia during the early part of the 20th century and thus the nomads ceased making such beautiful weavings when a plastic bag could serve the purpose! Thus the demise of the little chanteh.
Chantehs were made by the young nomadic bride to contain a mirror, jewellery and coins and were highly prized possessions, never to be sold!
This beautiful little chanteh was made by an Afshar nomad around 1900-1920 and has survived in remarkable condition, complete with the tufts of wool around two sides and along the bottom, symbolising good luck and good fortune. The face of the bag is in knotted-pile with the exciting back, which I much prefer, in slit-tapestry, flatweave technique. This design of diagonal zig-zags, I believe, symbolises flowing water - one of the most important elements in tribal life.
Size: 18cm x 20cm wide (7" x 8").
Chantehs were made by the young nomadic bride to contain a mirror, jewellery and coins and were highly prized possessions, never to be sold!
This beautiful little chanteh was made by an Afshar nomad around 1900-1920 and has survived in remarkable condition, complete with the tufts of wool around two sides and along the bottom, symbolising good luck and good fortune. The face of the bag is in knotted-pile with the exciting back, which I much prefer, in slit-tapestry, flatweave technique. This design of diagonal zig-zags, I believe, symbolises flowing water - one of the most important elements in tribal life.
Size: 18cm x 20cm wide (7" x 8").
£850
Antique Prayer-Rug, Timuri Tribes, Dokhtar-e-Qazi Sub-Tribe, Borderlands ...
Item Ref
BM/DQ
This charming little prayer-rug was made by the Timuri 'Dokhtar-e-Qazi' tribe during the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
What is most unusual about this lovely and relatively scarce little rug is the depiction of a stylised 'tree' rising within the central field and up into the pointed mihrab. I have handled and seen a fair number of these Dokhtar-e-Qazi prayer-rugs over the years but I've never seen the use of the central tree in any of them until this one!
Silk can be observed highlighting the pointed mihrab as well as at the very top of the tree, particulary seen in the close-up photos attached.
In very good original condition with the remains of the chevron kilim skirts at the top, this rug therefore, must have been very important to the owner and highly prized.
Size: 1.25m x 1.00m (4' 1" x 3' 3").
What is most unusual about this lovely and relatively scarce little rug is the depiction of a stylised 'tree' rising within the central field and up into the pointed mihrab. I have handled and seen a fair number of these Dokhtar-e-Qazi prayer-rugs over the years but I've never seen the use of the central tree in any of them until this one!
Silk can be observed highlighting the pointed mihrab as well as at the very top of the tree, particulary seen in the close-up photos attached.
In very good original condition with the remains of the chevron kilim skirts at the top, this rug therefore, must have been very important to the owner and highly prized.
Size: 1.25m x 1.00m (4' 1" x 3' 3").
£1,650
Antique Afshar Tribal Rug, Neiriz Reegion, Kerman ...
Item Ref
BM/AF
Wow! Look at all these lions in the border of this fantastic Afshar rug!
It is very unusual to find this stylised depiction of the Persian lion with the sun over its back symbolising the sun rising on the Persian Empire and more often seen in Persian city rugs. The rug is quite stunning in its own right but the use of the lion and sun border makes it quite unique and very desirable. The indigo ground contains three stylised flowers, bursting into life and I love the depiction of the two ivory trees on either side of the lower red flower. In very good condition albeit with some slight wool corrosion affecting the indigo-blue ground but only negligible.
Size: 1.73m x 1.20m (5' 8" x 4' 0").
It is very unusual to find this stylised depiction of the Persian lion with the sun over its back symbolising the sun rising on the Persian Empire and more often seen in Persian city rugs. The rug is quite stunning in its own right but the use of the lion and sun border makes it quite unique and very desirable. The indigo ground contains three stylised flowers, bursting into life and I love the depiction of the two ivory trees on either side of the lower red flower. In very good condition albeit with some slight wool corrosion affecting the indigo-blue ground but only negligible.
Size: 1.73m x 1.20m (5' 8" x 4' 0").
£3,500
Antique Corridor Carpet, Feraghan, North-West Persia.
Item Ref
BM/Feraghan
This beautiful corridor carpet has a stunning madder-red field comprising five central lozenges in shades of dark-green, pea-green and ivory. Made in the Feraghan region of north-west Persia circa 1900, both ends of the red field contain small, stylised birds and what appear to be combs symbolising cleanliness. The carpet is in very good condition with both ends complete and no restoration whatsoever.
Size: 3.00m x 1.35m (9' 10" x 4' 5").
Size: 3.00m x 1.35m (9' 10" x 4' 5").
£3,500
Antique 'Ru Korssi', Timuri Tribes, Borderlands of ...
Item Ref
BM2007
The 'Ru Korssi' was a flat-woven decorative cover for the 'mangal' - a wooden frame placed in the tent or mud-brick dwelling under which bowls of burning charcoal were placed. The mangal was then covered with blankets and on the very top, was place the symbolic, decorative cover, the ru korssi.
This stunning ru korssi was woven by Timuri tribes during the last quarter 19th century and incorporates three 'trees-of-life' in the central natural aubergine ground and on either side protected by powerful borders.
The horizontal borders at the top and bottom contain one border line in knotted-pile. Also note at the very bottom of the aubergine field, two differing symbols on either side of the central tree.
I believe this represents the male and female symbols representing eternal life and fertility.
Size: 1.52m x 1.42m (5' 0" x 4' 8").
This stunning ru korssi was woven by Timuri tribes during the last quarter 19th century and incorporates three 'trees-of-life' in the central natural aubergine ground and on either side protected by powerful borders.
The horizontal borders at the top and bottom contain one border line in knotted-pile. Also note at the very bottom of the aubergine field, two differing symbols on either side of the central tree.
I believe this represents the male and female symbols representing eternal life and fertility.
Size: 1.52m x 1.42m (5' 0" x 4' 8").
£1,450
Antique Khotan Rug, Eastern Turkistan, Central Asia. ...
Item Ref
BM2115
This magnificent glowing-blue ground rug was made in Khotan, eastern Turkistan, during the mid 19th century.
It comprises three central roundels or flowers and surrounded with various Turkistani symbols.
In amazing condition for its age, the wool is soft and can be likened to silk-velvet!
Khotan rugs of this age and condition are today, extremely rare.
Size: 1.90m x 1.20m (6' 3" x 4' 0").
It comprises three central roundels or flowers and surrounded with various Turkistani symbols.
In amazing condition for its age, the wool is soft and can be likened to silk-velvet!
Khotan rugs of this age and condition are today, extremely rare.
Size: 1.90m x 1.20m (6' 3" x 4' 0").
SOLD
Antique Khotan Carpet, Eastern Turkistan, Central Asia. ...
Item Ref
BM2138
Here we see a very rare Khotan carpet, made during the second half of the 18th century.
The beautiful mid-blue ground contains one single roundel or flower in the centre and surrounded by tiny pink flowers throughout. Very striking is the typical inner and outer Khotan borders - large, powerful arrow-heads warding off evil spirits and protecting the inner Paradise.
A truly magnificent carpet, fit for any museum worldwide!
Size: 3.36m x 1.51m (11' 0" x 5' 0").
The beautiful mid-blue ground contains one single roundel or flower in the centre and surrounded by tiny pink flowers throughout. Very striking is the typical inner and outer Khotan borders - large, powerful arrow-heads warding off evil spirits and protecting the inner Paradise.
A truly magnificent carpet, fit for any museum worldwide!
Size: 3.36m x 1.51m (11' 0" x 5' 0").
SOLD
Antique Pair of Salt-Bag & Vanity-Bag, Shahsevan ...
Item Ref
BM2137
It is extremely rare to find a 19th century pair of bags which have remained together - in this case a salt-bag 'namakdan' and a vanity-bag 'chanteh', woven by the same Shahsevan woman and at the same time!
This is only the third pair of bags I have acquired in over 40 years of dealing and specialising in such fabulous objects, one pair are illustrated in my third edition 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' on page 102 which are Timuri - Sangtschuli tribe.
The pair illustrated here were made by a Shahsevan nomad in the region of Moghan around 1880 and both found in Iran recently in a private collection. Both bags are in remarkably good condition, bearing in mind that these bags were utilitarian and subject to hard use. The faces are in strong soumak weave, the backs in broad, coloured bands, plain-weave technique and both bags complete with original braided hangiong cords.
Both bags are of superb quality and highly collectable.
Namakdan: 50cm x 40cm (1' 8" x 1' 4").
Chanteh: 38cm x 20cm (1' 3" x 8").
This is only the third pair of bags I have acquired in over 40 years of dealing and specialising in such fabulous objects, one pair are illustrated in my third edition 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' on page 102 which are Timuri - Sangtschuli tribe.
The pair illustrated here were made by a Shahsevan nomad in the region of Moghan around 1880 and both found in Iran recently in a private collection. Both bags are in remarkably good condition, bearing in mind that these bags were utilitarian and subject to hard use. The faces are in strong soumak weave, the backs in broad, coloured bands, plain-weave technique and both bags complete with original braided hangiong cords.
Both bags are of superb quality and highly collectable.
Namakdan: 50cm x 40cm (1' 8" x 1' 4").
Chanteh: 38cm x 20cm (1' 3" x 8").
SOLD
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