Vintage Bengali kantha throw , Jaipur India 100% cotton Size: 160 x 113 cms

Vintage Bengali kantha throw , Jaipur India 100% cotton Size: 190 x 140 cms

Vintage Bengali kantha throw / single bedspread, Jaipur India 100% cotton Size: 220 x 150 cms

Vintage Bengali kantha throw, Jaipur India 100% cotton Size: 200 x 143 cms

A fine Bidri ware vase in the Mughal style, c 1900. The vase has perfect proportions. The craftsman has acheived the prize of covering the whole surface with luxuriously flowing vines and birds but with not the least sense of being squashed. The technique...

Shesh Boluki Qashqai, SW Iran  Exceptional and very rare Qashqai Wedding Canopy kilim. Acquired from a collector.  early 20th Century. The kilim is in perfect original condition. It can be used as a wall or ceiling hanging and, for the...

Belouch jijim (flatweave). A fine, hardwearing and decorative floor covering from the Belouch tribe of Afghanistan, with gorgeous colours. The name jijim, also jajim or cicim, refers to the technique of fine ‘warp substitution’ weaving. Many rug weaving cultures have...

This old Ayrurvedic massage board would have been used for warm oil massage, including treatment for the ears, or 'karna purana'. Karna Purana is the Sanskrit term for the Ayurvedic technique of administering warm oil into the ear canals. Performed...

This old Ayrurvedic massage board would have been used for warm oil massage, including treatment for the ears, or 'karna purana'. The size clearly suggests it was used for small children. Karna Purana is the Sanskrit term for the Ayurvedic...

Tekke Turcoman, NE Iran, c 1920 Tekke Turcoman tribe weavers are renowned for high quality weaving techniques. Each of the Turcoman tribes have their own distinct tribal motifs. This is a fine old rug in excellent condition, with no wear, lovely soft...

Vintage Uzbek ceremonial horse blank Size: 175 x 142 cms

Sivrihisar Kilim Fragment, Anatolian Turkey, Circa Mid 20th Century Size: 371 x 84 cm

 Fine Belouch, Afghanistan Belouch, Every one is different and has its own character. Incredible value for a genuine hand knotted rug, made by Belouch tribal weavers in Afghanistan. These ever popular rugs represent extraordinarily good value. They are woven entirely...

Wagireh, Baktiari, Iran Circa 1920. A rare sampler woven as a template for design and colour for a larger carpet. Sometimes called an ornak. It has been repaired and washed professionally. There is some wear as shown. However the fabulous colours and glorious drawing in...

Antique Shahsevan from Iran. Natural vegetable dyes in earthy blue and orange tones woven by nomadic weavers.  Size: 60 x 60 cms

Antique Qashqai saddle bag using flatweave kilim technique. Soft earthy tones with natural dyes. Size: 78 x 41 cms

Old Iranian Turcoman Bag. These may be used as floor coverings or with feather inners as floor cushions (please ask if you require this). Size: 84 x 86 cms

Qashqai Bag Cushion Comes with inner feather cushion Size: 58 x 58 cm

Old Kurdish Bag Cushion Comes with inner feather cushion. Size: 79 x 60 cm

Fine Tribal Cushion Comes with inner feather cushion. Size: 84 x 67 cm

This 'chigh' or reed screen was found by our friend and agent in Iran, Abbas Rahimi (see Nomads News), in Sanjav village in Western Iran. Reed screens rarely last more than a few decades in use but this one is...

Ersari chuval, means a large storage bag, often part of a double bag that could be slung over a horse or camel. See Marla Mallet's article on the context for these interesting tribal bags. Woven mid 20th century, this face...

Very old Kurdish fragment, NW Persia. Circa mid 19th century. Exceptional age and superb colours can be enjoyed for its exceptional beauty and as a rare textile. Size: 130 x 57 cm

Lace and netting making tools  from the collection of Frank Briglman, Edinburgh. Mostly 19th Century or earlier

Yahyali, Central Anatolia, Turkey Circa 1970 or earlier. Prayer kilim with many motifs and emblems associated with the yoruk (nomadic people) of Anatolia. Dyes appear mostly natural though the yellow border may be aniline. Original ends. Very good original condition....

Very fine Saddle Bag - Belouch, Afghanistan, Mid 20th Century or earlier. Life for many tribes around the world who depend on animals to subsist has often been a well of textile creativity, spurred on by a kind of joyful...

Old Russian Icons From the collection of Rufus Reade. The old Russian Orthodox icons are all painted in the traditional way: that is to say on a wood board which has been prepared with a plaster-like base of gesso. The...

Old Russian Icons From the collection of Rufus Reade. The old Russian Orthodox icons are all painted in the traditional way: that is to say on a wood board which has been prepared with a plaster-like base of gesso. The...

Old Russian Icons From the collection of Rufus Reade. The old Russian Orthodox icons are all painted in the traditional way: that is to say on a wood board which has been prepared with a plaster-like base of gesso. The...

Old Russian Icons From the collection of Rufus Reade. The old Russian Orthodox icons are all painted in the traditional way: that is to say on a wood board which has been prepared with a plaster-like base of gesso. The...

Old Russian Icons From the collection of Rufus Reade. The old Russian Orthodox icons are all painted in the traditional way: that is to say on a wood board which has been prepared with a plaster-like base of gesso. The...

Made by the Rabari caste of Shepherds, Kutch province, Gujerat. West India 173 x 87 cms

Juval, (complete) Turcoman, NE Persia, early C20th Felt and applique bag, early 20th century, Turcoman. The well-used bag is a lovely decorative item as well as being an interesting and rare example of nomadic life, and textile art. Juval, probably...

The Beni Ouarain is a tribal group of Moroccan berbers, one of many nomadic tribes of Morocco. They are famous for weaving carpets of plain colour with simple, patterns.  Size:  341 x 194 cm

Unusual slightly abstract effect appears in the way the pattern (in wool) is formed over a white base (in cotton). The technique is known as sumak – which appears like embroidery but is formed as the piece is woven. The back shows more...

Very Fine Juval face, Turcoman, Late 19th Century This is a very finely woven panel  that has been cut away from the doubtless damaged backing that formed the original ‘juval’ or large bag that would often be part of a double...

Belouch tribal bags come in many shapes and sizes. We think the buttons, beads and fabulous decorative weaving is a joy, an expression of flamboyance. 66 X 39 cms

Kurdish Bag -  Eastern Turkey, 19th C Size: 71 x 39 cm

Saddle Bag - Bergama Yoruk, Anatolia, Turkey Kilim and sumac technique are both employed in this saddle bag, early 20th century. The less than perfect shape perhaps shows the tussle between displaying beauty to enrich their lives, and getting a functioning bag finished...

Exceptional Saddle Bag - Veramin, Persia, 2nd Quarter C20th. The best example of a saddle bag in our collection. Its in almost mint condition, woven with the best glossy wool and stunning colours. Little such weaving exists from after 1930 so this represents...

Embroidered Kanbe Bag - Kutch, Gujarat Very fine and compact embroidery in superb rich and harmonious colours completely covers both faces of this bag. It was probably a dowry bag originally. Many of these textiles were made and used a...

Saddle Bag -  Kurdish, W Persia A very fine Kurdish bag, early 20th century, fabulous colours of natural dyes. It is in almost mint condition, perhaps indicating it was so prized that it was not much slung over donkeys’ backs or stuffed...

Juval, (complete) Turcoman, NE Persia, early C20th Juval, probably one half of its original double form and, in transit, slung over a pack animal, this would be used for all sorts of artefacts, cloyjiong, bedding, grain etc. It displays very fine...

Decorative Bag - Gujarat Originally used as a bag, this remarkable and colourful textile can also be a cushion cover, hanging or table piece. The tribes of Gujarat in NE India specialise in highly detailed embroidered mirror work and brilliant,...

Salt Bag - Baktiari, SW Persia. Wool with cotton highlights. Baktiari weavers go for deep dramatic colours with pure white cotton for highlighted decoration.  Salt bags were used by shepherds to carry salt for their sheep when out grazing. They are intricate...

Salt Bag - Baktiari, Persia Wool with cotton highlights. Typical drama of Baktiari weavers. Diamond shapes such as we see here symbolise fertility in many tribal weavings. When a failed crop or a barren sheep could spell disaster, such expressions of hope...

Salt Bag, Afshar, Persia The decorative tassles on the shoulders of this bag make imaginative use of the warps left either side of the ‘neck’ of the salt bag before it came off the loom.   Salt bags were used by shepherds to...

Salt Bag, Baktiari, SW Persia Wool with cotton highlights. Typical drama of Baktiari weavers. Diamond shapes such as we see here symbolise fertility in many tribal weavings. When a failed crop or a barren sheep could spell disaster, such expressions of hope...