A QASHQA'I DOUBLE BAG, WITH LEATHER REINFORCEMENT, SOUTH PERSIA, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

A QASHQA'I DOUBLE BAG, WITH LEATHER REINFORCEMENT, SOUTH PERSIA, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

“Both faces have quadruple radiating serrated fish-like forms in ivory arranged around a central ‘cross’ formed of opposed arrows that may be a modified Herati design. The dark blue ground is filled with rows of horizontal boteh, rosettes and small geometrical forms. The main border has the usual Qashga’i geometrical meander, in its floral form, on an ivory ground. A second border consists of rosettes arranged on a dark red ground. The knots are asymmetrical, open to the left, warps are in natural grey wool, wefts in red and brown. The slit panels are overlaid with leather that also folds over the ends. Leather loops replace the usual wool ones. Additional leatherwork reinforces the region between the two bag faces and also is folded over the left and right edges of the bag along its entire length. The back of bag is in red wool kelim with yellow and light-blue bands as decoration. At the junctions between back and front of bags there are up to four rows of yellow and brown or blue weft twining as decoration. Two further strips of leather reinforce the rear of the bag. Leather straps attached to the slit panels can be folded back into buckles to allow the bag to be attached to a girth or saddle.” (Benjamin, op.cit., p. 96). Approximately 78 x 35cm

The Collection of Professor Paul R Benjamin
For an introduction to the collection, please see Lot 193 in this sale

LITERATURE:

Benjamin, Paul, South Persian Rugs, Bags and Saddle Covers: from the collection of Paul R Benjamin, 3rd ed., 2004, pp. 96-97

“Bags with leather reinforcements are known to be produced by the Qashga’i (example in Woven Gardens, image 51, ed. by Black, D. and Loveless, C. David Black Oriental Carpets, London, 1979) but the design of the bags could also indicate the Khamseh group of tribes, perhaps the Basiri.” (Benjamin, op.cit., p. 96)