946. a fine antique Tekke turkoman torba or narrow storage bag

946. Provenance: Tekke tribe, Turkoman group of tribes, Turkmenistan/Central Asia

Size: 120 x 32 cm

Age: circa 1890

Condition: Largley good for high age, but it has been cut across it's length and restitched at some point in its history, with a consequent missing section.

Notes: These tribal animal trappings represent some of the finest of Turkoman weavings. They were often given as dowry gifts to show off the weaving competence and skill of their daughter - such abilities were highly prized by in-laws as they represented earning potential. This torba (storage bag) is such a piece - finely woven and detailed, using finest hand-spun highland wool and natural dyes. The principal ornament is the repeat of the aina-gul, arranged in compartments. The price reflects the fact that it has been cut and restritched.