Medium Storage Bag Face with Turkmen Gul Design

Artist

Baluch, Northeastern Iran (Iranian)

Date

19th century

Medium

Wool

Dimensions

Work : 32 x 17 1/2 in. (81.28 x 44.45 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Verne Trinoskey and Paula Armintrout Trinoskey

Object Number

2019.25.62

Label

This pile weaving is the front face of a medium-sized storage bag. It originally had a flat-woven back panel that is now missing. Western rug collectors traditionally valued pile weavings more than flat weavings, so if they came across a bag with a damaged flat-woven back panel, they would often cut it off and discard it. Today most collectors have more respect for the original functions of the weavings, and they will generally try to preserve textiles in their as-found condition, even if the textiles are incomplete or damaged.