Second half 19th century, 98 x 52 cm, North West Persia, Azerbaijan

This completely preserved sumakh double bag by the Khamseh Shahsavan represents a comparatively rare design type. The two dark blue faces are each dominated by a large hooked octagon, its white ground almost entirely taken up by a box-shaped gül. The central motif is embedded in a dense design of small diamonds quartered by colour change. The back is a coarse kilim of broad stripes, and the red, blue and green closure bands are also plainwoven. – Good condition.

GÜGEL, ERNST & WÜHR, RUDOLF, Zweck und Zier. Antike Taschen aus dem Kaukasus und Nordwest-Persien. Traunstein 2010, ill. p. 15