Rare Shahsevan Sumak Side Panel from John Wertime

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Shahsavan Mafrash Panel

I spotted this Shahsavan Mafrash Panel on www.Cloudband.com offered by one of the World's top experts in the field, my old friend John Wertime author of the landmark book Sumac Bags.

Trusted Resource List Rug & Carpet Dealers In The U.S. John Wertime.

Shahsavan Mafrash Panel

Rare Shahsevan Sumak Side Panel
Size: 44cm(H) x 102cm(W) / 1'5"(H) x 3'4"(W)
Region: West Asia ? Persia ? Northwest Persia ? Shahsavan
Item Type: Rugs and Carpets ? Bags and Trappings ? Mafrash panel
Period / Date: 1875 - 1900
Materials: wool, cotton
Structure / Technique: extra-weft wrapping
Condition: Good
Comments On Condition: some repair, expertly done; outer border missing
Full Description: Other than what seems to be its mate from the same mafrash, I've never seen another sumak weaving like this. Few bags, sumak or otherwise, rival its graphic qualities. All its colors are natural. The weave is of medium fineness. A great wall piece! (see John T. Wertime, Sumak Bags of Northeast Persia and Transcaucasia. 1998).

JBOC: I called John about this Mafrash panel and had a nice conversation. My question was since there are similarities in design to pieces from Karabagh that John published in Sumak Bags why didn't he call it a Karabagh. John explained that the difference was the weave. So while iconographically this seems closest to Karabagh it is not an exact fit. John did however mention that the white in this panel is white cotton which is common in Karabagh mafrashs.

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Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

Persian Rugs the O'Connell Guides