Nomadic Tents
The Black Tent in our exhibition was acquired in Tehran Carpet Bazaar in 2012 and originates from the Qashqai tribes of SW Persia. Such tents are ubiquitous among the Berbers of NW Africa and Bedouins of the Middle East. They can also be found in Turkey, particularly in the East. Deniz Cozkun, founder of The Black Tent Project offering nomadic tours in Anatolia, uses an almost identical version which he describes as follows:
The Black Tent, made of goat hair, is portable, waterproof, collapsable and has anti-reptile and anti-insect properties. Building our story, we decided that a black tent woven by carpet weavers would be perfectly suitable to make textile tours and for trekking in Turkey.
“One horse can carry the whole load of the black tent; however, 40 horses cannot carry its joy.”
The Black Tent weighs 160 kgs (350 lbs) with its roof of 24 m2, four dismountable walls, and inner ground coverage. It is constructed on 9 poles of several lengths and loaded on horseback during daily migrations. It is possible to set up The Black Tent within 30 minutes, including the placing of the whole household in the tent. In fact, the black tent is a complete house with all the facilities included, and can be dismantled, and reconstructed on the same day in a different place.
Chigh (pronounced chee) or reed screens may be used
- to form walls within the tent
- for added insulation
- to divide a space for privacy within
- placed outside as wind breaks.
We are exhibiting one fine Kurdish example inside the Black Tent that is currently on display in our Back to The Nomads Tent exhibition.
The Yurt (also on display in our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 exhibition) is loaned to us by Red Kite Yurts. It is a remarkably faithful copy of the very oldest types of tent which are still used across the steppe of Central Asia including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Felt made from sheep’s wool is the traditional insulating and waterproofing cover material. Canvas is common now (and is the only viable solution for Scotland!).
Tent bands are used to anchor the wooden framework and incidentally, given the complexity and artistry of their construction, beautify the interior space. The term ‘yurt’ really denotes an encampment for many nomadic dwellings in one place associated with the steppe regions. But it has become common usage to describe the actual tent.
Visit our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 exhibition, Back to the Nomads Tent for more information, to view our rare and unique collection of nomadic weavings, and to discover our authentic nomadic black tent and handcrafted faithful reproduction of a nomadic felted trellised tent (yurt) for yourself!
Runs until Sunday 25th August 2024.
