79343 Late 19th Century Antique Afghan Turkmen Chuval Bag, 02'00 x 03'10.
Step into the rarefied world of tribal antiquities with this one-of-a-kind Late 19th Century Ersari Turkmen chuval bag face, hand-knotted circa 1890 in the borderlands of northern Afghanistan. Originally woven as the front panel of a large nomadic storage bag, this heirloom textile now exists as an evocative fragment of history—an intimate portal into the lives of pastoral weavers whose artistry was both utilitarian and deeply spiritual. The composition showcases eight-pointed tribal guls arranged in a perfect cadence across a field of madder red, each emblematic motif steeped in symbolism, lineage, and protective power. Woven with hand-spun wool and vegetal dyes, this piece is a rare fusion of heritage and handmade luxury.
The bold guls, with their hooked outlines and nested cruciforms, serve as graphic fingerprints of the Ersari tribe—both identifiers and amulets. The surrounding secondary motifs, resembling celestial diamond medallions, add rhythmic tension and cosmic balance. Saffron, indigo, ivory, and walnut-brown tones shimmer against the deep field, revealing a palette curated not by trend but by ancestral instinct. Framing the composition is a commanding border adorned with rams-horn motifs and stylized latch-hooks, symbols of vitality and spiritual protection. This is tribal geometry at its most poetic, harmonizing power and grace in every knot.
Owning this textile is more than an aesthetic choice—it’s a mark of cultural fluency and elite connoisseurship. Whether framed in a collector’s salon, layered in a Wabi-Sabi interior, or elevated within a contemporary vignette, this piece invites thoughtful placement and reverent attention. It’s equally suited to luxury residential settings, boutique hospitality environments, or design narratives that favor authenticity over reproduction. Its intimacy and integrity make it not just décor, but dialogue—between past and present, between maker and collector.
In a world of ephemeral décor, this piece stands as a symbol of scarcity, story, and social good. Its wool was shorn by hand, its colors drawn from earth and flora, its forms passed down through matriarchal memory. It is a work of cultural preservation—one that resists the homogenization of mass production and champions the irreplaceable value of the handmade. This antique Ersari chuval face is not merely an object, but a legacy artifact, deserving of placement among museum-grade tribal textiles or the private sanctuaries of those who collect with purpose, knowledge, and refined intent.
- Abrash.
- Hand knotted wool.
- Made in Afghanistan.
- Measures: 02'00 x 03'10.
- Pile Height: 0.20 of an inch.
- Date: 1890's. Late 19th Century.
- This listing is for item and it has a matching piece: 2 x 4 Antique Afghan Turkmen Chuval Bag 79342.
