Red Persian Khorjin
A red persian khorjin is a tribal nomadic carrier woven for practical saddle transport, offering a tangible piece of nineteenth-century textile heritage.
Red Persian Khorjin
A red persian khorjin comprises genuine tribal saddlebags, half-bags, and surviving bag faces originating from nomadic confederations across nineteenth-century Persia. Collectors encounter complete double pouches, single faces mounted as cushions, and vanity or storage bags attributed to groups such as the Qashqai, Afshar, Luri, and Shahsavan.
The objects stem from nineteenth-century weaving traditions, with dates spanning the mid-nineteenth century into the early twentieth century. These textiles served utilitarian nomadic functions on pack animals before preservation as decorative interior elements.
Factors of quality
Quality rests upon the handle and lustre of the wool, alongside the precision of tribal geometric or pictorial motifs such as boteh, birds, and tile designs. Pieces featuring complete original plain weave backs or intact paired pouches command distinct attention from collectors.
The complexity of the weave structure, whether pile-woven or flat-woven soumak, dictates the refinement of the finished bag face.
Red Persian Khorjin Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for red persian khorjin among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Nomads wove tiny protective amulets directly into the wool to guard their saddlebags against envious glances on long desert journeys.
The Red Persian Khorjin Glossary
- Khorjin
- The Persian term for a saddlebag or storage bag woven by nomadic tribes. These items were draped across pack animals for transport.
- Bagface
- The decorative pile-woven front of a saddlebag, which survived separately after the utilitarian plain-weave backs deteriorated or were removed.
- Soumak
- A flat-weave technique where coloured weft threads wrap over and under warp threads to create a textured, durable surface. This method appears frequently on Shahsavan pieces.
- Boteh
- A stylised almond or paisley motif symbolising life and eternity. It appears commonly within Afshar and Qashqai tribal designs.
- Plain weave
- A simple unpiled weave structure utilising warp and weft threads, often found on the reverse sides or back panels of bags.
Red Persian Khorjin: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a khorjin used for?
Nomadic groups utilised these double pouches for transporting personal belongings, provisions, and household goods across horseback or camelback.
Today, collectors mount surviving bag faces as cushions or display them as wall textiles within domestic interiors.
How do I identify a Qashqai bag?
Qashqai pieces originate from the Fars province and typically exhibit fine wool and specific tribal iconography associated with southern Persian confederations.
Stylistic markers help separate these pieces from Kurdish or Shahsavan examples originating in northern regions.
How do I care for an antique bag face?
Protect antique wool textiles from direct sunlight and damp conditions to preserve the integrity of natural dyes and hand-spun fibres.
Gentle vacuuming with a mesh screen protects the pile while removing surface dust.