Double Saddle Bag (Khorjin)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1900
Medium
Wool; pile weave (front), doublecloth, tapestry weave (back), sumak brocaded
Dimensions
H. 41 in. (104.1 cm) W. 19 in. (48.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven-Brocade
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Inger G. and William B. Ginsberg, 2015
Accession Number
2015.490.39
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Double Saddle Bag, or *khorjin*, hails from around 1900 and exemplifies the masterful textile traditions of Islamic nomadic cultures, likely from Persia or Central Asia. Craft for practical use by tribal horsemen, these bags were slung over saddles to carry essentials like grain, clothing, or tools during migrations. Their dual design—two pouches joined by a wide band—made them indispensable for pastoral life, blending utility with stunning visual appeal in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection. The front features a lush wool pile weave, akin to the knotted te...