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Antique Salt-bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia.
Sold by Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
sold SA1167057
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2011
Browse dealers 112 items
  • About Us
    Dealing in antique and old tribal rugs, dowry weavings and decorative carpets from the near east and central asia since 1979.
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Id #SA1167057
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Antique Salt-bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia.

19th century
Sold 22 September 2025 · Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
This “Antique Salt-bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia” found a buyer.

It was listed by Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

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Antique Kerman TextileNomadic Wool BagPersian Nomad Bag Ask the dealer for something similar
Description

Salt-bags or 'namakdans' in Persian, as the name implies, were used for containing rock-salt in order to give to the animals during long migratiuons to help in the dehydration process. Such bags could also be used for carrying nut such as pistachio and almonds.

This beautiful namakdan was woven in all-wool, weft-substitution technique on the face and plain madder-red colour, weft-faced plainweave on the back. The sides or selvedges are wrapped in two-colour goat-hair and the top opening finish is completed in twill-pattern reciprocal brocading with lappits and two-colour goat-hair tie cords.

I love the use of colour in this stunning bag and the selective use of golden-yellow in the top and lower panels together with highlights of green.

Salt-bags are no longer made in the old tradition like this one, made circa 1880 by Kuhi Afshars in the Jebel Barez mountains in Kerman province, southern Persia. I remember these mountains well, having travelled regularly there for five years during my stay in Kerman, prior to the 1978 Iranian Revolution.

Size: 54cm x 56cm (1' 9" x 1' 10").

Physical Dimensions
Height
54cm (21.26")
Width
56cm (22.05")
Declaration

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets has dated this Antique Persian Salt Bag to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1167057
Dealers Internal Reference
BM2185
Dealers Notes

Viewing by appointment only.

Description
Salt-bags or 'namakdans' in Persian, as the name implies, were used for containing rock-salt in order to give to the animals during long migratiuons to help in the dehydration process. Such bags could also be used for carrying nut such as pistachio and almonds.
“
This beautiful namakdan was woven in all-wool, weft-substitution technique on the face and plain madder-red colour, weft-faced plainweave on the back.
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

The sides or selvedges are wrapped in two-colour goat-hair and the top opening finish is completed in twill-pattern reciprocal brocading with lappits and two-colour goat-hair tie cords.

fig 1. An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening.
fig 1. Antique Salt-bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia.

I love the use of colour in this stunning bag and the selective use of golden-yellow in the top and lower panels together with highlights of green.

Salt-bags are no longer made in the old tradition like this one, made circa 1880 by Kuhi Afshars in the Jebel Barez mountains in Kerman province, southern Persia. I remember these mountains well, having travelled regularly there for five years during my stay in Kerman, prior to the 1978 Iranian Revolution.

Size: 54cm x 56cm (1' 9" x 1' 10").

Height
54cm (21.26")
Width
56cm (22.05")
Date of Manufacture

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets has dated this Antique Persian Salt Bag to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1167057
Dealers Internal Ref
BM2185
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2011

Dealing in antique and old tribal rugs, dowry weavings and decorative carpets from the near east and central asia since 1979.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets Profile Page

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An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 3
Archive I An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Antique Salt-bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia.

Archive II An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening. View II
Archive III An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening. View III
Enlarged Archival View
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
Telephone 01451 824 447 or 07980 999 114
Location
North Cotswolds
Gloucestershire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/rugmac
Verified Since Oct 2011
Items For Sale 112
Items Sold 1,075
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
Verified Since Oct 2011
View Dealer Info
Location: North Cotswolds , Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/rugmac
Verified
Oct 2011
For Sale
112
Sold
1,075
An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening.
Antique Salt-Bag, Afshar Nomads of the Jebel Barez Mountains, Kerman Province, South Persia.
Ref: SA1167057
An antique Persian Afshar salt bag featuring geometric diamond motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green wool with a narrow bottleneck opening.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTextiles
  • Period19th century
  • StylePersian Tribal
  • MaterialWool, Natural Dyes
  • ColourRed
  • MotifsGeometric diamonds, Bottleneck shape, Multicoloured bands, Tribal iconography
  • SizeH 54 cm (21 in) x W 56 cm (22 in)

FAQs

Afshar salt bags (namakdan) were traditionally woven by nomadic tribes in southern Persia for practical use in storing rock salt for livestock and domestic cooking, featuring distinctive bottleneck designs and intricate tribal motifs.

These authentic pieces are typically crafted using hand-spun sheeps wool dyed with natural pigments, combined with warp-faced weaving or sumakh brocade techniques for heightened durability.

Authenticity is assessed by examining the irregularity of natural dyes, the density of the wool pile or flatweave, hand-spun yarn characteristics, and traditional tribal iconography unique to specific regions like Kerman.

These versatile pieces can be mounted as textile art on neutral walls, displayed on small stands, or used as textural accents to add warmth and cultural depth to modern living spaces.

Preservation involves keeping the textile out of direct sunlight to prevent colour fade, gently vacuuming with mesh protection, and maintaining low humidity to protect natural wool fibres from moth damage.
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