Second half 19th century, 54 x 98 cm, North West Persia, Azerbaijan

A side panel of a Shahsavan mafrash from the Hashtrud-Mianeh region, rather coarsely woven in the sumakh technique. The self-contained field design – four hooked diamonds and a small serrated diamond placed at the centre of the blue field, surrounded by a white border of serrated forms – suggests that this is the face of a cargo bag whose other three sides were woven in the kilim technique. A remnant of the kilim base survives at the bottom. – Good condition, somewhat reduced at the top.