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ID #SA1195954
FOR SALE
£2,350
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Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.
For sale by Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
for sale €2,750     $2,985
£2,350
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2011
Browse dealers 117 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 #SA1195954
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Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.

19th century
Description

This magnificent storage bagface or 'chuval' was made by Ersary Turkmen in the region of Beshir during the third quarter of the nineteenth century.

Such large chuvals were normally made in pairs and used in nomadic life to store clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc. with each bag hung on the flanks of the camels during migrations. In this case, the bag has lost its plain-weave back, which I suspect was either damaged and removed or cut away by some unscrupulous dealer in Turkmenistan in order to make more money as a floor rug!

Nevertheless, this bagface is in excellent overall condition, with a beautiful range of natural colours including a subtle green and golden-yellow. |It has a tiny re-weave in one corner.

The Ersary Turkmen of Beshir suffered a harsh drought in the mid 19th century and, fearing for their survival, a young woman of the tribe was quoted as saying "We may lack water, but we can weave strength together".

With threads of wool from every family, she made a rug filled with protective symbols, blessings and signs of unity. When the rug was placed in the Khan's yurt, its presence inspired courage. Soon the rains returned and the tribe thrived, remembering that like the sacred threads, their strength lay in being bound together.

Size: 1.00m x 1.48m (3' 3" x 4' 10").

Date of Manufacture

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets has dated this Antique Turkmen Storage Bagface to the 1860s.

Independent Date Guide ID 09371678
Dealer's Item Date1860s
Sellingantiques Date1860s
Sellingantiques agingItem 135-170 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1860s:
Soft abrash across the red ground: wool dyed in small batches with plant colours.
Fine hand-tied knots visible on the reverse: skilled nomadic loom work.
Characteristic zig-zag chevron field and elem skirt: traditional Ersary tribal composition.
Natural grey wool and goat-hair fringes: original unbleached warp threads.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions
Height
100cm (39.37")
Width
148cm (58.27")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1195954
Dealers Internal Reference
BM2241
Dealers Notes

Viewing by appointment only.

Description
This magnificent storage bagface or 'chuval' was made by Ersary Turkmen in the region of Beshir during the third quarter of the nineteenth century.
“
Such large chuvals were normally made in pairs and used in nomadic life to store clothes, bedding, pots and pans etc.
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

with each bag hung on the flanks of the camels during migrations. In this case, the bag has lost its plain-weave back, which I suspect was either damaged and removed or cut away by some unscrupulous dealer in Turkmenistan in order to make more money as a floor rug!

fig 1. A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.
fig 1. Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.

Nevertheless, this bagface is in excellent overall condition, with a beautiful range of natural colours including a subtle green and golden-yellow. |It has a tiny re-weave in one corner.

The Ersary Turkmen of Beshir suffered a harsh drought in the mid 19th century and, fearing for their survival, a young woman of the tribe was quoted as saying "We may lack water, but we can weave strength together".

fig 2. A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.
fig 2. Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.

With threads of wool from every family, she made a rug filled with protective symbols, blessings and signs of unity. When the rug was placed in the Khan's yurt, its presence inspired courage. Soon the rains returned and the tribe thrived, remembering that like the sacred threads, their strength lay in being bound together.

Size: 1.00m x 1.48m (3' 3" x 4' 10").

Date of Manufacture

Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets has dated this Antique Turkmen Storage Bagface to the 1860s.

Independent Date Report ID 09371678
Dealer's Item Date1860s
Sellingantiques dating1860s
Sellingantiques agingItem 135-170 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1860s:
Soft abrash across the red ground: wool dyed in small batches with plant colours.
Fine hand-tied knots visible on the reverse: skilled nomadic loom work.
Characteristic zig-zag chevron field and elem skirt: traditional Ersary tribal composition.
Natural grey wool and goat-hair fringes: original unbleached warp threads.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
100cm (39.37")
Width
148cm (58.27")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1195954
Dealers Internal Ref
BM2241
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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A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.
1 / 7
Archive I A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.

Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.

Archive II A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View II
Archive III A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View III
Archive IV A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View IV
Archive V A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View V
Archive VI A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View VI
Archive VII A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges. View VII
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 117
Items Sold 1,077
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
117
Sold
1,077
A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.
Antique Large Turkmen Storage Bagface, Ersary Tribes, Beshir Region, Turkmenistan, Central Asia.
Ref: SA1195954
A rectangular hand-knotted wool Turkmen storage bagface featuring central diamond motifs woven in crimson red, dark navy blue, yellow, and cream with fringed edges.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectRugs & Textiles
  • Period19th century
  • StyleTurkmen Tribal
  • MaterialWool
  • ColourCrimson Red
  • MotifsGeometric diamond medallions, Latch-hook borders, Zigzag chevron patterns
  • SizeH 100 cm (39 in) x W 148 cm (58 in)

This antique Turkmen storage bagface, or chuval, originates from the Ersary tribes of the Beshir region in Turkmenistan during the third quarter of the nineteenth century, specifically dating to 1860. The hand-knotted wool textile is styled in the Turkmen tribal manner with a Glastonbury boho aesthetic. It displays a rich crimson red ground decorated with dark navy blue, subtle green, golden-yellow, and cream tones, forming three central geometric diamond medallions flanked by latch-hook borders and zigzag chevron patterns. Fringed edges complete the ends, while a tiny re-weave is visible in one corner. Originally used in nomadic life by Ersary Turkmen to store household items and hung on camel flanks during migrations, the piece has lost its plain-weave back. In a contemporary home, it serves as a decorative rug placed on the floor. Measuring 100 cm high by 148 cm wide, this rectangular rug provides a substantial textile accent for living spaces, bedrooms, or studies. The balanced proportions allow it to sit comfortably beneath coffee tables or function as a standalone wall hanging. The intricate geometric motifs and deep red palette bring warmth and traditional Central Asian craftsmanship to interior schemes, complementing both neutral and vibrant furnishing styles. Its durable wool construction ensures it handles everyday placement within domestic environments while maintaining its historical character.

FAQs

A Turkmen storage bagface, historically known as a chuval or torba, is the woven front panel of a utility bag used by nomadic tribes across Central Asia. These textiles were created to store clothing and household goods inside tents or during seasonal migrations.

These textiles are hand-knotted using hand-spun wool pile on a wool or cotton warp and weft foundation. Natural dyes derived from plant, insect, and mineral sources produce the characteristic shades of madder red, indigo blue, and warm ivory.

Authentic Ersary pieces typically exhibit geometric latch-hook diamonds, stepped borders, and a saturated reddish-brown or dark crimson field. The reverse side reveals hand-knotted construction with slight structural variations characteristic of village or nomadic looms.

A tribal bagface can be mounted as a framed wall hanging or draped across a wooden bench to introduce colour and pattern. It also works as an accent rug in smaller areas such as reading nooks or entryways.

Preserve antique wool textiles by vacuuming gently without a rotating brush bar and keeping the piece out of direct sunlight to prevent dye fading. Professional cleaning should always be handled by a specialist textile conservator.
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