Nomadic Yoruk weavers of the Southern Taurus Mountains who are descendants of Turkmen from Central Asia. They deveoped a technique of wrapping wefts that would allow them to use their slit-woven kilim designs on utilitarian bags that needed to have a very tight weave necesarry for holding grain or flour. This simple overlay-underlay brocading technique is used almost exclusively in Anatolia.
The striking motif used in this cuval is very unusual because it is a rare example of an Anatolian weaving motif that is not symmetrical on the hozontal axis. Except for a few very old motifs, all Anatolian motifs are horizontally symmetrical.
The design is split into two panels because these bags are woven to have half the design panel on the front and half on the back of the bag. A thick wool strap is attached to each side of the bag and runs between the two design panels.
Dealers open the bottoms of these bags and reclose them in a matter that puts both design panels on the front. However, when one sees these bags in use by nomads, they sit against the tent wall, corners pointing out, with both design panels in view on one side of the front and back of the bag. The straps have been removed from this bag, as is usual when these enter the market. The original stitching on the seam that closes the back is intact. Stitching on the bottom was done by the rug dealer and would certainly not hold up to actual use. Bags are often trimmed to eliminate holes at the bottom end before hemming.
This type of cuval always had wide vertical stripes on the back. This one has broad orange, red, dark blue and tan stripes offset by narrow bands of the same colors.
Antique and Antique Collecting
Antiques have always lured those with a passion for the past and its cultural significance. Antique collecting though is a serious hobby which requires the hobbyist to posses a great deal of information on the history and other correlating facts if they are to land a reasonable purchase. Most often if not antiques make their way into the mainstream market via simple garage sales, auction houses etc. wherein the owner would have overlooked the significance of these precious collectables.
A reflection and testimony of the glorious past, Antiques are undoubtedly rare. Perhaps that is why Antiques have been collected and preserved for over thousands of years as a souvenir and tribute to what has been and gone. After all, those heard are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter!
Antique collecting has been in the books since the 16th century, gaining momentum through the 18th century to grow into what is now a healthy international business thats on par with the art industry. Some individuals prefer to collect antiques from a specific era, while most are into specific objects and aim at a timeline based collection such as vintage cars or clocks from the 1950s for example. The purchase of antiques is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the effort that goes into their maintenance. Most objects would be anywhere in the range of 50 to 100 years old. The biggest culprit to an antiques degradation is exposure to natural elements, even the air in most cases!
Over the years, antique collecting has taken another curious twist as certain home décor trends these days reflect on a retro feel. For this reason a lot of long lost furniture and clothing styles from half a century ago have found their way back into the current world with small changes that help them amalgamate into the 21st century. This trend of commercially viable antiques has had a negative impact on the market as replicas of famous antiques have been making the rounds and authenticity issues are far too common. Examples for the same would be pendulum clocks, bone china and the 1970 – 1979 contemporary modern furniture.
When it comes to venturing towards a purchase, its best for an individual to take assistance from the nearest antique dealer organization as it would guarantee both its authenticity as well as cover any legalities. Most often the replica market supplies the same antiques at a much lower price and the buyer could suffer serious repercussions on purchasing from such sources as these pieces are not officially accounted for. Antique collecting needs to be met with diligence and maturity in order to successfully sustain the past in the present.
