Qashgai Antique Persian Salt-Bag: 50cm x 48cm

Origin: Persia/Iran
Style: Qashgai Antique Persian Salt-Bag
Provenance: N/A
Dated: Early/Middle 20th C
Hand Woven Niddle work
Length: 50cms / 1.6 feet
Width: 48cms / 1.6 feet

This type of bag, traditionally used  for storing personal possessions or  indeed salt, but also sometimes as a cushion stuffed with feathers. The Qashqai nomadic tribes of the Fars province in southwestern Iran weave these pieces with an assured dexterity and skill.They are not normally made for export, but for domestic use; that is the reason they are often carefully and beautifully made, and they can be very decorative. The front face is carpet and the reverse is usually Kilim.

This rather quirky example has a multitude of block colouring in it's central and attention grabbing central key medallion. Shades of red, plum, sand, indigo and beige are all included in the piece with great effect. Star and flower motifs make up the remainder of the field and the inner border. The growing vine outer border is rare and is a nice touch. This bag has a multi-coloured ribbed eyelet top, more common with bigger bags, for hanging and use with a strap. There is also one large tassel to the bottom right hand corner. The reverse features a tri-banded stripe of red and black set upon a plum ground. This is a rather eccentric example. It should be noted that the fringe is not in perfect condition, due to it's age.

These bags have a multitude of uses that could include using the piece as a cushion, a small rug, a beautiful wall hanging or as a personal storage bag as the maker probably intended. A small price to pay for a very useable and versatile work of art.