Malatya Sarykecili mafrash(?) fragment
Price €2000 (EUR)
Main Image
Other Images
full size
Item Details
Size
125cm(W) x 130cm(L) / 4'1"(W) x 4'3"(L)
Item Type
Mafrash panel
Region
Malatya, Central Anatolia
Date
Early 19th century (1800 - 1833)
Structure
soumak, weft-faced plain weave, interlocking tapestry,
Materials
wool, cotton, and silver metal thread
Full Description
The function of this weaving is difficult to determine. There are two three dimensional padded fixtures similar in technique to Qashqai pot holders aligned in a row in the middle of the weaving. There was a third but it has become detached and is presently missing. These might have had straps or strap 'handles' connected to them. This seems to indicate that this was a highly specialized weaving for transport of some presently unknown gear. The quality of the colors, number of colors, and the manner in which the colors are separating into their components suggests that this is one of the oldest Malatya weavings known.
What appears to be an informed opinion has just come in from Michael Wendorf:
Michael, I believe this is better called an "Ala Chuval", at least that
is what people in Turkey call them. It does appear to be slightly reduced
on the ends but is not really a fragment. There were no end panels as in a
so-caaled mafrash. Ala chuval were used as storage sacks with the two ends
connected and made to have the two decorated, usually weft float brocading
but also in other techniques, panels showing vertically. They were woven in
pairs and are distinct in format from mafrash - a term incidently that is
not used for those rectangular sacks in Turkey.
