Antique Tribal Bags and Bag Faces - 1
       From the collection of Marla Mallett
Some of the most engaging tribal textile art from the Middle Eastern Oriental rug world appears in the form of saddlebags, storage sacks and bedding bags. The small scale of these items encouraged experimentation, and traditional nomadic weavers used a wide variety of patterning techniques. Yörük and Turkmen nomads in Anatolia excelled with brocading, while Shahsevan groups in northwest Persia and the Caucasus used intricate soumak weaves. Go to Basic Weaves if you would like to read about the structures.  For a discussion of tribal bags, go to The Varieties of Tribal Bags and Panels

As nomads gradually settled into village life and turned to more standard Oriental pile rug production, the output of flatwoven ethnographic objects slowed dramatically. Recent fine examples are rare. When the backs of sacks and bags became badly worn, they commonly were removed and the lavishly ornamented faces kept as family heirlooms. Included in our gallery collection are unusual antique Anatolian bags and bag faces -- pieces that have not yet been well documented in rug literature.  Some of these are sturdy enough to serve as small rugs.  

Click on the inventory numbers below to see full views of the pieces. Check out our Tribal Textiles and HOME pages for kilims and other gallery offerings. You may wish to take a look at More Early Kilims for a discussion of restoration and conservation issues, or read our essay,  Criteria For Selecting Tribal Textiles.


Shahsevan Khorjin Face
Mianeh-Bijar area, NW Persia
Mid 19th century
Wool and cotton.  19½"x 22"
Soumak
W-9197


Bergama Ala Cuval Face
Northwest Anatolia
Late 19th or early 20th century
Wool.  25"x 34½"
Reciprocal brocading
W-7475


Shahsevan Mafrash Panel
NW Persia. Dated 1904
Wool.  41½"x 19"
Soumak
W-9119


Karabagh Mafrash End Panel
Azerbaijan
Late 19th century
Wool and cotton. 19"x 18"
Soumak
W-8304


Pair of Borchaliu Mafrash Panels
Georgia
Late 19th century
Wool and cotton
Soumak
W-6860
W-6861


Caucasian Saddlebag
Azerbaijan
Late 19th century
Wool and cotton. 19½"x 28½"
Soumak
W-9161


Jajim Saddlebag
Karacadag. Southeast Anatolia
Early 20th century
Wool.  19"x 33½"
Warp-substitution weave
W-7394


Shahsevan Khorjin Face
Moghan area, NW Persia
Mid 19th century.  Wool
17½"x 19½"
Reverse soumak
W-8968

Pair of Yomut Turkmen Cuvals
Turkmenistan. Late 19th century
Wool.  44"x 33½"and 42"x 32"
Soumak bands
W-8331
W-8332


Hakkari Saddlebag
Southeastern Anatolia.
Circa 1900
Wool, silk, cotton and metallic
Brocading.  23"x 46"
W-9095


Azeri Çuval
Azerbaijan. 19th century
Wool.  32"x 33"
Brocading
W-9008


Kağizman Saddlebag
Anatolia.  Late 19th century
Wool.  27½"x 50"
Slit tapestry
W-9038


Afshar Salt Bag
South Persia.  Late 19th century
Wool and cotton.  19"x 21½"
Soumak and knotted pile,
with tassels
W-9069


Pair of Shahsevan Mafrash Panels
NW Persia. 19th century
Wool.  Each 19"x 20½"
Brocading
W-8457
W-8458

Yağcebedir Ala Cuval
NW Anatolia
Circa 1900
Wool.  30"x 45"
Reciprocal brocading and
slit tapestry
W-8376


Shahsevan Mafrash
Mogan-Savalon area, North Persia
Wool.  44½"x 22"x 18"
Soumak
W-9024


Cihanbeli Ala Cuval Panel
Central Anatolia
Late 19th century
Wool and cotton.  42"x 26"
Reciprocal brocading and soumak
W-9086


Kutahya Yoruk Apron
Western Anatolia. !910-1920
Wool and cotton. 23½"x 50½"
Twill weave with brocading
W-8375


Bergama Ala Cuval
Northwestern Anatolia
Circa 1900
Wool.  29"x 43"
Brocading; card-woven straps
W-8373


Azeri Saddlebag
Azerbaijan
Circa 1900
Wool. 22½"x 48"
Zili overlay brocading
W-8432


Bakhtiari Saddlebag
West Persia. Mid 20th century
Wool and cotton
25"x 39"
Soumak
W-8270


Hazara Cuval
Afghanistan.  Circa 1900
Wool and cotton
33"x 63½"
Weft-substitution weave
W-9041

Karabagh Mafrash Panel
Azerbaijan. 1900-1910
Wool and cotton
17½"x 37½"
Soumak
W-8273


Malatya Saddlebag
Eastern Anatolia
1890-1900
Wool.  22"x 45"
Weftless soumak
W-9022

Go to Bags & Bag Faces - Page 2 or  Page 3 or Page 4
Large Cuvals & Mafrash Kilims
The Varieties of Tribal Bags and Panels

Tribal Textiles Main Page
   

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How to Order 		MARLA MALLETT
1690 Johnson Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30306  USA

 Phone:  404-872-3356
        or Toll Free:  1-877-542-0841
E-mail:  marlam@mindspring.com