With the summer break quickly approaching, many people will now be dusting off their suitcases in preparation for their long awaited vacations. The summer break is always a fine opportunity to catch up with old friends and of course to be with the family. For people wishing to take presents home with them, look no further than the carpet shop. Before you grimace at the thought of paying for a silk Hereke from Turkey or a fine woolen carpet from Esfahan, Iran, focus instead on the smaller, affordable, very practical tribal textiles from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The majority of carpet shops stock a wonderful array of beautifully woven and richly colored tribal textiles from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, such as, mafrash (small bags/cushions), chuvals (arge tent bags), khourjeens (double-sided bags of various sizes), namak donneh (salt bags), and suzanis from Uzbekistan.
Cushions can be found as small as 30cm x 30cm and are ideal for use on the family sofa. Prices for these little gems range between SR50 to SR350 inclusive of stuffing and sewing. The large rectangular tent bags called chuvals, usually produced in pairs, can measure from 110cm x 80cm upwards. Original tribal uses for chuvals included storing the tribal families’ personal effects and using them, as we use suitcases, to move their belongings from one settlement to another. Strapped on both flanks of the horse or camel they would have been laden with treasured tribal belongings. When stuffed, the chuval make excellent throw downs around the house. They can also take considerable abuse, if required, from the rough and tumble of energetic kids as well as being decorative and a centerpiece for conversation. Prices depend on age, coloration, condition and scarcity.
Contemporary chuvals produced by the Turkoman Sara weavers in northern Iran are usually distinguishable by their dense weave, low clipped pile and use of fresh-looking, dark scarlet reds and highlights of green. The designs vary but are always influenced by the Turkoman weavers from Turkmenistan, where the traditional repetitive gul (rose) pattern dominates. Prices can vary, so expect anything between SR 800 to SR1,200 for a pair. A great gift for a friend perhaps. Old and antique chuvals from Turkmenistan are highly desirable and passionately sought after. If intact and paired, expect to pay anything between SR2,000 and SR40,000 which could be a gift more suitable for a close family member.
Yet another very practical gift for a family member or friend would be the khourjeen (double-sided bag). The khourjeen can be found in various sizes and is either woven with a woolen pile or with a flat weave (kelim). The tribes’ people from Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Iran originally produced these double-sided bags to enable them to transport various items of importance around when migrating, or when making trips to the bazaars. When the bag was full on both sides, it would simply be thrown over the nomad’s shoulder or thrown over the backs of horses or camels. These double-sided bags are sometimes called donkey bags or camel bags.
In the west, these bags have many practical uses. For example, cyclists hang them over the crossbars of their bicycles and carry anything from books and papers to shopping items in them. Another practical idea would be to hang them over a chair and keep your keys and mobile phone there. Once you become accustomed to keeping your keys and mobile phone in a khourjeen, you will always know where your phone is and you won’t incessantly have to ask family members if they have seen your car or house keys. The much larger khourjeen can be hung over the railings of a staircase and used as a decorative laundry bag or as a place for storing magazines.
Old Khourjeens display woolen loops sewn along the openings of the piled bag face. These loops are the nomads’ equivalent of the zip. Wool thread would have been passed through the loops and secured, making sure that precious contents do not fall out during transit. Contemporary khourjeens, cushion-sized and larger in size, range in price between SR180 to SR1,000.
The salt bag (namak donneh) is another piece of tribal ingenuity. Woven by the Afghan and Iranian Balouch tribes, the salt bag is predominately flat woven with small areas of woolen pile. The woolen pile complements the flat woven design and gives the salt bag great depth. The Balouch weavers traditionally used dark colored wool in tones of brown, black and blue along with highlights of natural colored cream and white wool. The salt bag has a long neck at the top. When the salt bag was full, the long neck helped reduce the spillage of salt when either the bag was being moved around or was accessed for salt by the nomads. These wonderful little weavings make delightful decorative wall hangings. Prices generally range between SR50 to SR150.
Another fine consideration for a summertime present would be a suzani (embroidery) from Uzbekistan. Originally it was a dowry item that was woven as a decorative bed cover. The embroidered part of the suzani is silk on a cotton background. Classic designs include vibrantly colorful medallions in pinks, reds, blues and yellows that are surrounded by swirling green vines that amazingly deceive the eye into believing that there is a choreographed movement. Old and antique examples find their way into the major auction houses in the west. However, there are contemporary examples available today that a lot less detailed and colorful than their antique predecessors but are affordable and would be excellent presents. They can also be used as sofa covers or dining table covers. Prices should range between SR300 and SR1,000.
For those of you who are thinking of purchasing some tribal textile treasures for summer gifts, one thing will be certain. You will be giving your family and friends a small historical item that is immersed in heritage and culture and will remain with them for the rest of their lives, and for which they will always remember you.
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- Arab News Features 5 June 2003