Antique Afshar Double Bag Face Panel, possibly from a Mafrash (Cargo Bag), Circa 1895
This distinctive piece was woven by a member of the Afshar tribe in south Persia. What exact form it was made for, or as, is open to discussion.
There are items referred to as “Mafrash” which are woven in Persia, the Caucasus and eastern Turkey. I do not recall ever having a Mafrash from Turkey but we have had Persian and Caucasian Mafrash, or at least the panels from some. A Mafrash is a cargo or bedding bag, generally with five sides: a top panel, two longer side panels, and two small end panels. A Mafrash could be used to cover something or to store items in.
Many Mafrash are woven in “kilim” (flat woven) or “soumak” (brocade type weaving) techniques. The piece featured here is distinctive in having two long, pile “bag faces” connected by a large, plain red kilim section.If this was originally a “Mafrash”, the two end panels are missing.
This is an exceptional piece and was published in a book written, if my memory serves me correctly, by one of the top English antique rug dealers. We had a copy of the book at one time but I can not remember which book it was or if we still have it. We might have given it to the person who purchased the weaving from us. My memory, apparently, is not what it once was.
