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

Mali Wedding Blanket,  Vintage Mali Fulani wedding blanket or khasa woven in hand-spun cotton and wool in 5 narrow loom vertical sections then sewn together to form a single piece of cloth.  Khasa were important to the Fulani nomads, who depended...

Qashqai Bag  Size: 45 x 29 cm

Qashqai Bag  Size: 30 x 30 cm

Belouch Balisht Bag Cushion An Afghan tribal bag, (balisht = grain sack). These were made for various storage needs probably less for grain than other uses. They could be thrown over a horse or camel, and help to keep belongings...

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

Antique Qashqai bag from Iran. Natural vegetable dyes in warm earthy tones woven by nomadic weavers. Kilim weave backing with complementary colours. Size: 35 x 35 cms

Antique salt bag from NW Iran. Vibrant vegetable dyes in rich blues and oranges woven by nomadic weavers. Kilim weave backing. Size: 45 x 40 cms

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

Handwoven fine old Qashqai saddle-bag, Iran 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 competitive spirit, not unlike the urge...

Handwoven Qashqai bag, Iran. 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 competitive spirit, not unlike the urge in some...

Complete handwoven Kurdish saddle bag using handspun wool natural dyes, with kilim back. 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...

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: 81 x 64 cm

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

Qashqai Bag Cushion Comes with inner feather cushion. Size: 82 x 57 cm

Qashqai Bag Cushion Comes with inner feather cushion. Size: 82 x 57 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...

Kilim and sumac technique are both employed in this saddle bag, woven with wool and a goats hair selvedge. Life for many tribes around the world who depend on animals to subsist has often been a well of textile creativity, spurred on by...

Belouch Balisht Bag An Afghan tribal bag, (balisht = grain sack). These were made for various storage needs probably less for grain than other uses. They could be thrown over a horse or camel, and help to keep belongings tidy...

Bedspread. metal thread and silk on cotton. Cotton backed. Made in Jaipur, India  Size: 246 x 204 cm

Cotton viscose with metal thread  Size: 510 x 115 cm

Silk embroidered silk sari from NW India, Bengali weavers. This very fine, (and amazingly also hand woven) silk material is economically and subtly decorated with expensive silk yarn. Note the least seen part of the sari has little decoration.  Size:...

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...

Kanbe Chakla (decorative panel) Kutch, West India  Embroidery, applique, and mirror work in a fabulous play of red, blue and yellow. Such a piece may be hung on a wall or laid on a table or sideboard. It will make...

Toran, Gujarat Size: 173 x 87 cm

A decorative embroidered and appliqued textile full of traditional Gujarati imagery, early to mid 20th century. Size: 142 x 76 cm

Toran, Gujarat Size: 62 x 41 cm

Jainamaz or djoinamaz means prayer niche. The arch shape with its echo of gothic European architecture, represents the mihrab, a window into heaven. This is an original, simple devotional textile, most likely hung on a wall. Size: 158 x 91 cm

  A decorative fringed suzani textile, for putting on a table. Size: 81 x 72 cm

Rabari are the shepherd caste from Gujarat, NW India. Elaborate and brilliant decoration is a hallmark of textiles from Gujarat. Most traditional Gujarat families have abandoned such work. Size: 81 x 57 cms

Lakai Segosha - Uzbekistan Used in tribal nomadic life, in a tent, to sit on top and hold together a pile of quilts. No corner of the tent was not worthy of care and decoration. Pride and status is expressed...

The Hotamis of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, descend from Turkmen tribes who emigrated Westwards from the steppes of Central Asia. This is a rare and very fine fragment, mounted on heavy cotton. Suitable as a hanging or to go on a...

Pulkari work is the technique of silk embroidery. This is a vintage piece, very finely embroidered with radiant silk threads. Mid 20th Century. Size: 70 x 48 cm

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...

Lakai Segosha - Uzbekistan Used in tribal nomadic life, in a tent, to sit on top and hold together a pile of quilts. No corner of the tent was not worthy of care and decoration. Pride and status is expressed...

Hazara dress front,  Hazara group of Afghanistan. Fine chain stitch and mirrorwork on cotton. A conserved panel. We often find evidence that the finer decorative section such as dress fronts, dress trims, cuffs etc are cut of the garment and...

Rabari blouse front,  Kutch, NW India Very fine old dress front embroidered in chain stitch, mirror work and other stitch techniques on to silk.  Size: 65 x 42 cm

Embroidered Panel - Meghwal, Gujarat Fine silk and cotton embroidered onto cotton base with applique and other stitch techniques. Made by the Meghwal  people of Gujarat, who it is said are descended from Rishi Megh, a saint who had the power...

Camel Head Dress, Lakai, North Afghanistan An elaborate ceremonial head dress for a camel, embroidered and decorated with coins, hair and wool tassels. Sizes measured when laid flat. Size: 86 x 42 cm  

Embroidered Bag - Gujarat Applique and embroidery on cotton chakla (square decorative panel). Many of these textiles were made and used a long time ago. A few may have minor fraying, discolouration, small tears, and loose threads. For a more...

Dharamiya, Gujurat Dharamiya is for covering a pile of bedding or household articles. Gujarat, West India. This is a very old textile, possible early 20th century with embroidery, applique and a few pieces of mirrorwork.  It has been mounted carefully...

Gujarat blouse front,  West India Silk and cotton embroidery in a variety of stiches and applique on cotton with mirrorwork Size: 76 x 46 cm

Ahir Blouse, Ahir herding caste, Gujarat. West India Fine embroidery and needle work on cotton. Size: 79 x 54 cm

Magnificent Baar Sankhiyo door way cover from the Ahir caste of Kutch, Gujarat, NW India. The elaborate embroidery and mirror work fills every square centimetre as if their could not be