Antique Tribal Double-Sided Saddlebag – Hand-Knotted Wool

An evocative antique tribal saddlebag, retaining both decorated bag faces and the connecting center section. Handwoven in wool, the piece features bold geometric medallions surrounded by angular stepped motifs and traditional protective devices.

Each face is individually woven, giving the bag the appealing variations characteristic of genuine village and nomadic weaving. The palette is especially attractive, combining brick and madder reds, rose, deep indigo/navy, brown, ivory, ochre and touches of green. Strong geometric borders frame the central panels, while the substantial connecting section preserves the object's original utilitarian form.

Originally made as a functional pack or saddlebag for transport over an animal, pieces such as this are now collected both as examples of tribal textile art and for decorative display. It can be displayed intact, draped over a bench or chest, or hung vertically as a textile.

A particularly appealing feature is that the saddlebag survives substantially intact rather than as separated bag faces, preserving much more of its original ethnographic character.

A wonderfully graphic, time-worn tribal textile with the patina and individuality that only come from genuine age and use.

Details:

Type: Antique tribal double saddlebag

Region: Likely Persian/Caucasian tribal weaving tradition; precise attribution not guaranteed

Material: Wool

Construction: Handwoven with pile-decorated faces

Design: Stepped geometric medallions with stylized tribal motifs

Colors: Red, rose, indigo, brown, ivory, ochre and green

Condition: Well-used antique condition, with visible pile wear, fading, edge wear, irregularities and losses consistent with its age and original working purpose. Please examine photographs carefully. 147x46cm