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ID #SA1241110
FOR SALE
£750
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Antique Salt-bag, Kuhi Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, South Persia.
For sale by Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets
for sale €878     $953
£750
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 #SA1241110
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Antique Salt-bag, Kuhi Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, South Persia.

19th century
Description

Salt-bags or 'namakdans' in Persian, were containers for rock-salt, given to the animals during long migrations to help in the dehydration process.

This handsome namakdan was made by Kuhi Afshar nomads in Kerman Province, south Persia during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The face of the bag is woven in fine weft-substitution technique; the back woven in plain-weave.

The bag is in very good overall condition, albeit with some staining on the back, possibly from indigo-dye.

Size: 48 x 43cm (1' 7" x 1' 5")

Date of Manufacture

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

Independent Date Check ID 09687770
Dealer's Item Date1880s
Sellingantiques Date1880s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-150 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1880s:
Weft-substitution flatweave face with stepped diamond diaper: typical of nomadic Afshar weaving.
Madder red, indigo, and undyed wool: plant and mineral dyes of nineteenth-century Persia.
Hand-spun wool on face and back: traditional tribal loom work.
Twined finishes along the rim: intact original container structure.

This is an independent date and photo anotation report compiled 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.

Physical Dimensions
Height
48cm (18.90")
Width
43cm (16.93")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1241110
Dealers Internal Reference
BM2325
Dealers Notes

Viewing by appointment only.

Description
Salt-bags or 'namakdans' in Persian, were containers for rock-salt, given to the animals during long migrations to help in the dehydration process.
“
This handsome namakdan was made by Kuhi Afshar nomads in Kerman Province, south Persia during the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Brian MacDonald Antique Rugs & Carpets

The face of the bag is woven in fine weft-substitution technique; the back woven in plain-weave.

The bag is in very good overall condition, albeit with some staining on the back, possibly from indigo-dye.

Size: 48 x 43cm (1' 7" x 1' 5")

Date of Manufacture

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

Independent Date Report ID 09687770
Dealer's Item Date1880s
Sellingantiques dating1880s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-150 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1880s:
Weft-substitution flatweave face with stepped diamond diaper: typical of nomadic Afshar weaving.
Madder red, indigo, and undyed wool: plant and mineral dyes of nineteenth-century Persia.
Hand-spun wool on face and back: traditional tribal loom work.
Twined finishes along the rim: intact original container structure.

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
48cm (18.90")
Width
43cm (16.93")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1241110
Dealers Internal Ref
BM2325
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 handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory.
1 / 4
Archive I A handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory.

Antique Salt-bag, Kuhi Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, South Persia.

Archive II A handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory. View II
Archive III A handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory. View III
Archive IV A handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory. View IV
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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 handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory.
Antique Salt-Bag, Kuhi Afshar Nomads, Kerman Province, South Persia.
Ref: SA1241110
A handwoven antique wool salt bag featuring a narrow neck and geometric diamond lattice pattern in indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTribal Textiles
  • Period19th century
  • StylePersian Tribal
  • MaterialWool, Natural Dyes
  • ColourIndigo Blue
  • MotifsBottle neck, Diamond lattice, Geometric repeating motifs, Flat weave border
  • SizeH 48 cm (19 in) x W 43 cm (17 in)

This antique salt-bag or namakdan originates from the Kuhi Afshar nomads in the Kerman Province of south Persia, dating to 1880. Woven from wool using natural dyes, the piece displays an indigo blue ground decorated with terracotta, turquoise, and ivory geometric repeating motifs and a diamond lattice pattern across its body, complemented by a distinctive bottle neck and a flat weave border. The front shows a fine weft-substitution technique while the reverse is executed in plain-weave, presenting very good overall condition with some staining on the back. Measuring 48 cm high and 43 cm wide, this tribal textile brings practical scale and traditional Persian craft to the interior. It suits display on a narrow wall space in a hallway, study, or living area, adding authentic historical texture and a vibrant palette of indigo blue, terracotta, and ivory to bohemian or eclectic decorative schemes in the home.

FAQs

A salt bag, traditionally known as a namakdan, is a woven container produced by nomadic tribes in Persia to store and transport rock salt for livestock. The characteristic narrow neck design was specifically constructed to prevent salt from spilling out during transit across rugged terrain.

These textiles are crafted from hand-spun sheep wool and coloured using natural vegetable dyes. They often combine structural flat-weaving techniques, such as soumak or kilim, with knotted pile borders to ensure durability against daily wear.

Authentic Afshar salt bags exhibit hand-spun wool construction, natural dye variation (abrash), and a distinctive bottle-neck silhouette. They typically feature repeating geometric diamond motifs, indigo blue and madder red field colours, and evidence of authentic age along the selvedges.

Tribal salt bags are frequently displayed as decorative wall art by mounting them inside custom shadow boxes or suspending them from discreet hanging bars. They also function as textural accent pieces when displayed on open shelving or console tables within bohemian or eclectic interiors.

Store or display the textile away from direct sunlight to minimise natural dye fading, and maintain consistent, low humidity to protect the wool fibres. Remove surface dust periodically using a vacuum cleaner set to low suction with a soft brush attachment protected by a fine mesh screen.
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