Antique Flatweave Dining Sofreh, Timuri Tribes, Borderlands ...
Item Ref
BM1613
This rare and incredibly stunning coral-ground dining sofreh was made around 1870 by Timuri nomads on the Persian/Afghan border region. The cross in the centre symbolises protection - a pre-Islamic symbol for breaking down evil into four parts, thus giving protection to the food placed upon the sofreh during meal-times. Although the sofreh was made entirely from wool with goat-hair selvedges, the Timuri weaver has inserted highlights of silk which I suspect was made for an important member of the tribe, possibly the khan or chief. Camel-hair is more often found in the field of sofrehs but in this instance, the use of a natural coral dye is much rarer.
The brocaded skirts are superb in intricate brocaded weave, putting a stunning finishing touch to a highly-prized utilitarian weaving.
Size: 1.50m x 0.84m (4' 11" x 2' 9").
The brocaded skirts are superb in intricate brocaded weave, putting a stunning finishing touch to a highly-prized utilitarian weaving.
Size: 1.50m x 0.84m (4' 11" x 2' 9").
£2,950
| $4,111 USD | €3,438 EUR
Flatweave - Dining Sofreh, Timuri Tribes, Borderlands ...
Item Ref
B1
This rare and beautiful dining 'sofreh' or flatweave, was woven specifically for placing on the floor of the tent during meal-times, bowls of food, bread and chai were placed upon it and the tribes-people would sit around cross-legged, eat, drink and enjoy conversation. Quite often, such sofrehs were kept for special occasions when guests and tribal dignitaries paid a visit.
This sofreh, made circa 1880 by Timuri nomads on the Persian/Afghan border, has a plain natural camel-hair ground - symbolising humility and the acceptance of precious food. Note the long, intricately brocaded skirts which show the incredible work that went into making these highly prized weavings - never intended for sale and true nomadic woven art.
Size: 1.40m x 0.69m (4' 7" x 2' 3").
This sofreh, made circa 1880 by Timuri nomads on the Persian/Afghan border, has a plain natural camel-hair ground - symbolising humility and the acceptance of precious food. Note the long, intricately brocaded skirts which show the incredible work that went into making these highly prized weavings - never intended for sale and true nomadic woven art.
Size: 1.40m x 0.69m (4' 7" x 2' 3").
£2,500
| $3,484 USD | €2,914 EUR
Antique Hall Runner, Kurdish Tribes of Bijar, ...
Item Ref
BM/SJ4
This beautiful hall runner was made by settled Kurdish tribes in the Bijar area of Persian Kurdistan circa 1900. It is in full, lustrous woollen pile throughout with a central field of stylised flowers, referred to as 'mina khani' in Persian or nectar blossom design.
For anyone looking for a hard-wearing and stunning hall runner, then this one is certainly worth thinking about!
Size: 5.10m x 0.92m (16' 9" x 3' 0").
For anyone looking for a hard-wearing and stunning hall runner, then this one is certainly worth thinking about!
Size: 5.10m x 0.92m (16' 9" x 3' 0").
£3,500
| $4,878 USD | €4,079 EUR
Antique Turkmen Chuval, Sariq Tribes, Yolatan Oasis, ...
Item Ref
BM1579
The Chuval in Turkmen vocabulary was the bedding bag for transporting personal belongings on the camels and pack animals. This Chuval has lost its flatwoven back but retains, in excellent condition, its beautiful finely knotted-pile face incorporating 9 Sariq Turkmen guls (crests). Made around 1900, the red field is probably derived from cochineal (insect dye). What a steal at £950!!!
Size: 1.49m x 0.81m (4' 11" x 2' 8").
Size: 1.49m x 0.81m (4' 11" x 2' 8").
£850
| $1,185 USD | €991 EUR
Antique Gabbeh, Qashqa'i - Kashkuli Nomads, Fars ...
Item Ref
BM1601
This magnificent and rare Gabbeh was made by Qashqa'i - Kashkuli tribes in Fars Province, south-west Persia circa 1870. Today, gabbehs like this are rare, principally because they were specifically made for everyday use in the black tents and subsequently were subjected to hard use. This gabbeh has an evenly-low pile all over but is perfectly suitable for floor use. It is absolutely complete with original sides and beautifully knotted elems (skirts) albeit, it has had some expert re-piling in places using vegetable dyed wool. The brilliant shades of natural-dye colours make this gabbeh a highly desirable and collectible rug.
Size: 2.39m x 1.52m (7' 10" x 5' 0").
Size: 2.39m x 1.52m (7' 10" x 5' 0").
£5,500
| $7,665 USD | €6,410 EUR
Antique Khamseh Confederacy Rug, Baharlu Tribe, South-West ...
Item Ref
BM/RM1
This beautifully elegant rug contains four vertical rows of six 'botehs' with smaller 'botehs' inside each - symbols of fertility and always referred to as 'mother & child' botehs. In excellent complete condition, this rug was made by the Baharlu taifeh (sub-tribe) of the Confederation of five tribes, known as the Khamseh Confederacy, based in south-west Persia and made circa 1900. The ivory field is full of double-headed sunbirds and small stylised chickens, all pecking at seeds on the ground. This is a superb example of the type.
Size: 1.90m x 1.30m (6' 3" x 4' 3").
Size: 1.90m x 1.30m (6' 3" x 4' 3").
£3,500
| $4,878 USD | €4,079 EUR
Antique Afshar Rug, Neiriz, Kerman Province, South ...
Item Ref
BM1586
This very unusual rug has just arrived - made by Afshar nomads around 1900 but with a rare ivory-ground and delicate use of flowers and vine-leaves. Extremely decorative and in my 40 years of dealing in rugs, I haven't come across this design in an Afshar rug before!
The rug is in very good overall condition.
Size: 1.55 x 1.34m (5' 1" x 4' 5").
The rug is in very good overall condition.
Size: 1.55 x 1.34m (5' 1" x 4' 5").
£3,000
| $4,181 USD | €3,496 EUR
Antique Turkmen Carpet, Kizyl Ayak Tribe, Turkmenistan, ...
Item Ref
BM/DR6
A handsome main carpet of the Kizyl Ayak Turkmen, made circa 1870 in Turkmenistan.
It has a glowing red field consisting of 3 vertical rows of 9 Kizyl Ayak 'guls' - tribal crests - and a very striking, typical Kizyl Ayak main border.
In generally good overall pile condition, the carpet has a few areas of old re-weaves and is priced accordingly.
Size: 2.34m x 1.46m (7' 8" x 4' 9").
It has a glowing red field consisting of 3 vertical rows of 9 Kizyl Ayak 'guls' - tribal crests - and a very striking, typical Kizyl Ayak main border.
In generally good overall pile condition, the carpet has a few areas of old re-weaves and is priced accordingly.
Size: 2.34m x 1.46m (7' 8" x 4' 9").
£2,750
| $3,832 USD | €3,205 EUR
Antique Khamseh Confederacy Corridor Carpet, South-West Persia. ...
Item Ref
BM/CC
The Khamseh Confederacy - a confederation of 5 tribes - inhabit the region of Fars in south-west Persia, next to their neighbours, the Qashqa'i. This handsome and elegant carpet was made circa 1870-1880 and is in good overall condition with an evenly-low pile and a few minor old repairs and replaced selvedges - all reflected in the reasonable price.
It has been washed and ready for floor use.
Size: 3.72m x 1.55m (12' 2" x 5' 0").
It has been washed and ready for floor use.
Size: 3.72m x 1.55m (12' 2" x 5' 0").
£2,750
| $3,832 USD | €3,205 EUR
Antique Bakhtiari Carpet, The Chahar Mahal Region, ...
Item Ref
BM/SJ1
This beautiful Bakhtiari carpet has a glowing madder-red field surrounded by a magnificent, powerful main border. Made around 1880-1900 in the region of The Chahar Mahal in Western Persia by settled Bakhtiari tribes, it is in good overall condition but with some areas of wear. Nevertheless, this is a very floor-worthy carpet, washed and ready for use.
Size: 3.00m x 2.20m (10' 0" x 7' 3").
Size: 3.00m x 2.20m (10' 0" x 7' 3").
£6,500
| $9,058 USD | €7,575 EUR
Antique 'Tasheh' (Wheat Sack), Luri - Bakhtiari ...
Item Ref
BM/VS1
Wheat-sacks or 'tashehs' in Persian, were specifically made to contain wheat. They were purely tribal in origin, with never any thought of selling them commercially, and once well-used and worn out, were simply discarded. They were first discovered some 35 - 40 years ago in a Bakhtiari encampment by the well-known Iranian expert on tribal life, Parviz Tanavoli. He rescued many of them before they were thrown-out and introduced a 'new' weaving to the world collecting market. I acquired 35 of them some 25 plus years ago and put on an exhibition in my then Cotswold gallery, selling the lot in a matter of three weeks!
This pair have recently come back to me from that exhibition and are now available once again, for sale. Antique tashehs like these have now become extremely rare as the demise of these woven utilitarian sacks came around the 1940s after the nomads could barter for plastic sacks in the bazaar. These date to the 1920s.
The sizes of this pair are 1.19m x 1.30m each.
This pair have recently come back to me from that exhibition and are now available once again, for sale. Antique tashehs like these have now become extremely rare as the demise of these woven utilitarian sacks came around the 1940s after the nomads could barter for plastic sacks in the bazaar. These date to the 1920s.
The sizes of this pair are 1.19m x 1.30m each.
£1,250
| $1,742 USD | €1,457 EUR
Old Suzani, Nurata, Uzbekistan.
Item Ref
BM1604
Elegant in fine silk Suzani embroidery, this beautiful Suzani was embroidered in the Nurata area of Uzbekistan by an elderly Uzbek woman who was trained in old suzani embroidery using vegetable colours.
Size: 2.00 x 1.57m (6' 6" x 5' 2").
Size: 2.00 x 1.57m (6' 6" x 5' 2").
£2,250
| $3,136 USD | €2,622 EUR
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