Bag Face (chuval), Saryk Tribe
Central Asia
19th Century, Wool pile
121.9 x 83.8 cm (48 x 33 in)
Arlene C. Cooper
Promised gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art
This is the face of a broad storage bag that was hung from the wooden trellis that formed the wall of the Turkmen tent. Originally it would have had a woven back and two hanging straps. Cotton has been used for the white details of the design; this may be because cotton is not darkened by the smoke from the fire used for cooking inside the tent. The use of small details worked in pink silk is an indication that the weaver was intending this to be something special.