Shahsavan Bagface 1471

This exquisite Shahsavan bagface from Northwest Persia, woven in the fourth quarter of the 19th century by the nomadic Shahsavan tribes of Azerbaijan, is a rare and beautiful example of tribal textile art at its most intimate and technically accomplished. It may have originally served as the face of a saddlebag or as a side panel of a mafrash — the large storage and sleeping bag used by nomadic tribes during their seasonal migrations between highland summer pastures and lowland winter quarters.

The piece combines two distinct weaving techniques in a single composition — kilim flatweave sections and richly textured soumak-woven design elements — a technical complexity that speaks to the extraordinary skill of the Shahsavan weavers. The soumak detailing adds intricate surface decoration and a three-dimensional quality that elevates this functional object to a work of art. Tribal bags, bagfaces, and saddlebags represent some of the most intimate and personal textile objects ever made by the nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes of Persia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Created for daily functional use — carrying salt, spices, grain, tools, and household goods during seasonal migrations — these small weavings were nonetheless executed with extraordinary care and artistry. Today, freed from their original purpose, they are treasured as works of art: wall-mounted, displayed on tables, or repurposed as pillows — miniature windows into the weaving traditions of the tribal world.  This item is identical pair to SKU: 1470.

Dimensions: 1' 8" x 1' 11"

Date of Manufacture: 4th Quarter of the 1800s

Place of Origin: NW Persia (Shahsavan, Azerbaijan)

Material: Wool on a wool foundation with natural dyes

Condition: Wear consistent with age and use

SKU: 1471