Shahsevan Double Saddle Bag
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850
Medium
Wool and cotton
Dimensions
H. 51 in. (129.5 cm) W. 21 in. (53.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Inger G. and William B. Ginsberg, 2018
Accession Number
2018.666.15
Art Historical Context
This striking Shahsevan double saddle bag, dating to around 1850, exemplifies masterful textile traditions of nomadic peoples in northwestern Iran. Crafted by an unknown artist from the Shahvan tribe—a Turkic-speaking confederacy renowned for their pastoral lifestyle—the bag was designed as a practical khorjin, or paired pouch, for securing goods on horseback during migrations. Measuring an impressive 51 inches high and 21 inches wide, its wool and cotton construction reflects the resourcefulness of nomads who wove these essentials by hand, balancing utility with bold aesthetic appeal. In the...