Turkish Pile Saddle Bag, Opened

Two woven medallions sit stacked like windows in a red wall.

Bakhtiari weavers made this pile saddle bag in wool in Karapinar, Konya, Turkey, in the 20th century. Saddle bags were commonly woven in pairs to hang across a pack animal, and the pile face carried the decoration. It is shown opened flat. Two rectangular fields of burgundy and navy hold small star motifs, each ringed by a stepped diamond border. Bands of yellow and cream stripe the lower end, and short fringe survives at the edges.

Lay it on a bench or over a chair back. Once packed for travel, now content to stay put.