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Double Flour Bag

ca. 1900
Not on view
Double flour bags, which were carried on the backs of pack animals, are distinctive for their large size. Examples created by Bakhtiari weavers almost always include both tightly woven sumak extra-weft wrapping and reinforcement over points of extreme wear in the form of pile weave, typically with symmetrical knots. These methods would prevent flour from sifting through the bag.

The closure of this bag was made with a tapestry (kilim) technique, with slits on one side and braided loops on the other. A band of twining, which extends into the three-dimensional loops, is worked into the plain-weave structure of the back of the bag, creating a stronger, more durable construction.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Double Flour Bag
  • Date: ca. 1900
  • Geography: From Western Iran, Bakhtiari tribe
  • Medium: Wool (warp, ground weft, sumak weft, and pile) and goat(?) hair (braided loops); sumak extra-weft wrapping, tapestry (kilim) with dovetailing, and border pattern in complementary weft weave (front); symmetrically knotted pile (top and bottom edges); weft-faced plain weave with two areas of pattern in sumak extra-weft wrapping with twined and braided loop closures (back)
  • Dimensions: H. 57 1/2 in. (146.1 cm)
    W. 43 in. (109.2 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Woven-Brocade
  • Credit Line: Gift of Inger G. and William B. Ginsberg, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.490.8
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Saddle Cover, Wool (warp, ground weft, and pile); symmetrically knotted pile
Saddle Cover
last quarter 19th century
Double Saddle Bag (Khorjin), Wool (warp, weft, and sumak weft) and goat(?) hair (sumak weft); sumak extra-weft wrapping, weft-faced plain weave, and slit tapestry (kilim) closure (front); weft-faced plain weave and braided loop closures (back)
Double Saddle Bag (Khorjin)
ca. 1875
Salt Bag, Wool (warp, ground weft, and supplementary weft); balanced plain weave with pattern in supplementary brocaded weft (front); weft-faced plain weave (back)
Salt Bag
last quarter 19th century
Double Saddlebag (Khorjin), Wool (warp and sumak weft), cotton (ground weft), and goat(?) hair (sumak weft); sumak extra-weft wrapping and slit tapestry (kilim) closure (front); weft-faced plain weave with pattern in supplementary brocaded weft (back)
Double Saddlebag (Khorjin)
ca. 1900
Salt Bag, Wool (warp, ground weft, sumak weft, and pile), cotton (white sumak weft and white pile), and goat(?) hair (side finishes); sumak extra-weft wrapping (front); symmetrically knotted pile (bottom edge); weft-faced plain weave with pattern in sumak extra-weft wrapping (back); wrapped warp tassels
Salt Bag
ca. 1920

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