Kashmiri hand stitched wool hat, India

Kashmiri hand stitched wool hat, India

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Vintage Turkoman Hat with hand stitched needlework, N E Persia

Trapping Size: 184 x 4 cms

Very fine Cicim, (pronounced jijim) woven in sumak technique with natural dyes. You will see that weaver was not happy to simply repeat a few coloured diamonds, but carefully made every one a little different, drawing the eye hither and...

Vintage Cihanbeyli Yastik, Turkey Konya, Turkey  c1950s Yastik are the decorative faces of large bags or grain sacks commonly found in Anatolia up to the 1970s. Once the bag, perhaps its backing first, becomes too worn, the front may be cut...

Mut cicim kilim, Turkey Mid 20th century Size: 108 x 91 cms

Vintage Uzbek ceremonial horse blank Size: 175 x 142 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, Persia 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...

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...

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

Cotton viscose with metal thread  Size: 510 x 115 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

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...

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...

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  

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

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 enough material to contain the enthusiasm of the person...

Rabari border mounted on silk khadi. Khadi means hand spun and hand woven cloth. Elaborate embroidery and mirror work. Gujarat, West India 166 x 13cms (plus mount)

Choli, Mochi tribe, Kutch, Gujarat, NW India. A choli is a woman’s top, often with little at the back. The sleeves, back and lower front are made from a very fine red silk and metal thread material, possibly a jacquard...

Qashqai camel head dress, SW Persia 1st half 20th century. In the UK and elsewhere in the West, the equestrian equivalent of this Qashqai camel trapping would be a bridle. What a different approach! Great skill and a great variety...

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

An exceptional tent band showing the weaver’s great skill and patience. For a mere functional item, we can barely imagine any equivalence in western culture. The band itself shows a remarkably intricate weaving technique known as warp faced inlay brocade....

Embroidered Bag - Silk on Black Cotton, Uzbekistan Very fine silk cross-stitch on cotton and pretty beaded fringes go round 3 sides of this small bag which can easily also be a decorative item placed on a table or side...

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...

From the collection of Janet Harvey, and part of the The Nomads Tent ‘Textiles of the Southern Silk Route’ exhibition in the early 2000s. From the shoulder to the hem of the skirt is 124 cms. The sleeves are 55 cm...

Embroidered Turcoman chapan (traditional Turkic overcoat) with metal decorations, more for ceremonial occasions than everyday wear, with its long flamboyant sleeves and elaborate metal medalions attached to the front. Typical black, yellow and red main colours of Turcoman tribes, here...

Exceptional highly elaborate Turcoman chapan (traditional Turkic overcoat). Typical black, yellow and red main colours of Turcoman tribes, here shown with extremely lavish and masterful embroidery at every possible point on this rare article. Charming multi coloured silk tassles with...

Ikat silk has a quality all its own due to the technique of pre dying threads before weaving, creating a not quite aligned pattern full of shimmery colour. Generous length and flowing sleeves give this robe great presence. The Nomads...

Turcoman chapan (Turcoman word for over coat) embroidered in black, red and yellow on plain black cotton with red gussets and other detail. The Nomads Tent collection of vintage and antique tribal costume. Many of these items were part of...

Typical of Turcoman textiles, the embroidery is in black, red and yellow, on ground material mainly of a deep green/black heavy hand woven cotton with red cuffs. Every stitch, seam, pleat and gusset is satisfying to behold. The Nomads Tent...

Typical black, yellow and red main colours of Turcoman tribes, here shown with fine embroidery and elegant silk tassels. Very long decorative sleeves. The Nomads Tent collection of vintage and antique tribal costume. Many of these items were part of...

Traditional sleeveless tunic worn by men of the Bakhiari and Lurs tribes of SW Persia. The Nomads Tent collection of vintage and antique tribal costume. Many of these items were part of our exhibition, ‘Textiles of the Southern Silk Route’....

This coat has a striking use of contrasting colours and a spectacular green silk embroidered collar. It is lined sumptuously with dramatically coloured silk. The Nomads Tent collection of vintage and antique tribal costume. Many of these items were part...

Lavishly intricately embroidered in typical brilliantly coloured cotton needle work with mirror work, and decorative trims. There may be flaws and blemishes as this is an old textile, previously used.