DepartmentTextiles-Middle East

Mafrash (woven storage bag)

NameTravel bag / bedding bag

Artist Artist unrecorded

CultureQashqa’i

Dateca. 1920

Place madeIran, Middle East or West Asia, Asia

Mediumwool, leather, sinew, metal

Dimensions9 × 16 1/2 × 36 5/8 in. (22.86 × 41.9101 × 93.0277 cm)

Credit LineGift of Marvin J. Hand Jr.

Object numberA.2024.2.8

Provenancedonor purchased these textiles from various sources (bazaars, rug dealers, etc.) in the 1970s while living in Iran

DescriptionBag composed of body and flaps in one piece with two sides. Weft faced plain weave with weft float brocade. Elaborate leather end handles. 4 leather straps with buckles to close the bag. Edges and seams covered in leather. Evidence of previous moth damage. Small repairs made where little tufts of yarn appear.
In Qashqa’i communities, brides traditionally receive a pair of mafrash for her dowry. For an image of similar mafrash in use, see Tapper and Johnson, eds. The Nomadic Peoples of Iran (2002), p. 225.