Wool band with wool tassels. Tent bands literally hold the outer coverings of the tent in place. They’re often associated with the wooden frame tents or yurts of central Asian Turcoman nomadic tradition. Urban centres have been around for a...

Wool and goats hair Trappings include bands to secure saddles, head bands to anchor reigns and ‘bits’, blankets as what we call a saddle and many other applications. They are made for horses, mules, donkeys and camels and are both...

This complex weave shows its many years of service, either as a pack band to secure the load or as a chest band, from which there may have been hanging decorative tassels. Trappings include bands to secure saddles, head bands...

Wool (sumak weave band) and wood (pomel) Trappings include bands to secure saddles, head bands to anchor reigns and ‘bits’, blankets as what we call a saddle and many other applications. They are made for horses, mules, donkeys and camels...

Wool, cotton and ceramic beads Trappings include bands to secure saddles, head bands to anchor reigns and ‘bits’, blankets as what we call a saddle and many other applications. They are made for horses, mules, donkeys and camels and are...

Kashmiri hand stitched wool hat, India

Kashmiri hand stitched wool hat, India

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...

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...

Cicim Yastik,  Obruk, c1930 Konya, Turkey 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...

Yastik Derbent Konyo , Turkey Vintage, c1930s 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 off, neatly...

Yoruk Yastik, Turkey Vintage, Mid 20th century 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...

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...

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...

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  

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...

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...

Indian pictorial hand printed cotton textile. Size: 189 x 117 cms

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....

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. The Nomads Tent collection of vintage and antique tribal costume. Many of these items were part of our exhibition, ‘Textiles...

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...