Shahsevan Moghan Savalan Rugs
Examples:
Shahsevan Cruciform Sumac Bag
Country of Origin: Persia/Iran. This bag is from the Moghan Sabalan region that straddles the Iran Azerbaijan border.
Date of Origin: late 19th century
Use: Khordjin (half)
This is an attractive example of a very special group. It lacks the color and drawing that causes the Swan Cruciform bag to be consider the best of type.
Size: Approximately 1ft. 10in. by 1ft. 10in. (0.56 by 0.56m.)
Original blue and charcoal flatwoven back with a repair, reweave, discoloration
Moghan Savalan Shahsavan Cruciform Sumac Bag 1st half 19th C.
Origin: South East Caucasus, Moghan Region, 1st half 19th c.
Size: ca. 60 x 50 cm
Among the Shahsavan bags, those with an arrow gul design have a very special magic. This piece, presently unpublished, seems to be one of the oldest and finest, with tiny details worked in silk, and four miniature animals. In very good condition.
Moghan Shahsevan 19th c Bag face
Origin: Southeast Caucasus, Moghan Region, 19th century
Size: approx. 118 x 55 cm
Notes on Condition: Literature References. Rare collector´s item. Minor damage to sides, otherwise in good over-all condition.
Moghan Savalan Shahsavan Cruciform Sumac Bag 1st half 19th C.
Origin: Southeast Caucasus, Moghan Region, 1st half 19th c.
Size: ca. 151 x 57cm
Notes: Complete arrow gul khordjins very rarely appear on the market. In excellent condition, minimal damage to sides.
Shahsevan bag face Moghan region 
Origin: Southeast Caucasus, Moghan Region, ca. 1850
Size: approx. 47 x 46 cm
Notes on Condition: Literature References. Minor losses to sides, overcast, but in good condition.
A Shahsavan Beetle Bag
Shahsavan Moghan-Savalan Khordjin
This is an intact Shahsavan Khordjin attributed to circa 1900. The Shahsavan that made this bag are called Moghan-Savalan. This is because they winter their sheep in the lowland of the Moghan steppe, and in the summer move their herds into the highlands of Mount Savalan. These tribes are one of the most important in terms of weaving.
Silk highlights. 4 ft. 4 in. by 1ft. 11in.
Technique: tapestry weave with Weft-wrapped brocade.
Warp: Wool Z2s 19-20 per inch, ivory.
Pattern Weft: Wool Z2Z
Sides: 1 cord of 4 warps, face is folded at bottom and double overcast with blue wool to form bags.
Ends: Kilim folded under and sewn, interlocking loops every 2 inches sewn to back of face.
Colors: face – crimson, sapphire, teal, pale blue, coral pink, salmon, ecru, pistachio, khaki, deep mauve, seal brown, mint, buff. Back – ¼ inch alternating stripes of seal brown and cornflower blue.
Note the opposing loop closures. Loop and slit appears more common in Shahsavan weaving, but this is common as well. This is not as often seen in collectors’ pieces because the bags are rarely in condition as good as this.
Rare Khamseh Shahsevan Sumak Bag Face
Rare Khamseh Shahsevan Sumak Bag Face
Size: 66cm(H) x 63.5cm(W) / 2’2″(H) x 2’1″(W)
Region: West Asia > Persia > Northwest Persia > Shahsavan
Item Type: Rugs and Carpets > Bags and Trappings > Bagface
Period / Date: 19th century > mid (1834 – 1866)
Materials: wool, cotton warps
Structure / Technique: extra-weft wrapping (sumak)
Comments On Condition: in very good condition and complete, except for the back half.
Full Description: The large octofoil medallion that dominates the face is only seen in another very small group of sumak bags, also from somewhere in Khamseh Province, NW Persia. It probably derives from the design vocabulary of very old Anatolian rugs, something the largely Turkic Shahsavan tribes would have been familiar with when they inhabited Anatolia before their migrations to NW Persia in the 16th and 17th centuries. This bag face has cotton warps and a rather thick, heavy handle despite its fine and tight weave. This is clearly a rare and highly collectible example, one of the very best of its type.
Shahsavan Rug
Traditionally one would attribute this rug to Sarab in Northwest Iran. The primary fiber used is undyed camal, which is both what is traditional and what is used in this rug.
Size: 310 x 102 cm
Region: West Asia > Persia > Northwest Persia > Shahsavan
Type: Rugs and Carpets
Date/Period: 19th century, last quarter
Materials: Camel hair and wool pile.
Condition: The condition is nearly mint, with very slight wear at one extreme end.
Full Description: A striking minimalist design with two pale blue and one red-brown medallion connected by a slender pole with diminutive “anchors.” Lovely palette with clear yellow, light blue, rose, red, red-brown, dark-brown and camel. The ground is actual camel hair, with subtle abrash and a characteristic “fuzzy” back. The natural camel hair and brighter hues of dyes, particularly the pale blue and rose, may indicate a Shah Sevan origin.
Shahsavan Sumakh Double Bag
Note the slits for loop and slit closures. The front panel has the slits and the loops are fastened to the back and extend through the slits.
Size: 132 x 56 cm
Region: West Asia > Caucasus > South Caucasus > Shahsavan
Type: Rugs and Carpets > Bags and Trappings > Bag
The guard border is used in a number of places including Khamseh and Hashtrud Miyaneh but also Moghan Savalan.
The Moghan Shahsevan Khordjin
Origin: South Caucasus, Moghan Region, late 19th century
Size: approx. 112 x 53 cm
Notes on Condition: Literature References. Complete double bag in reverse sumakh technique. Sides open, corners damaged.
Shahsevan Bag Face
Origin: Northwest Persia, Azerbaijan, 19th century
Size: approx. 52 x 48 cm
Notes on Condition: Literature References. Very fine Sumakh technique. Damage to sides, small rewoven areas.
Moghan Savalan Shahsavan Sicissor Bag 2nd half 19th C.
Origin: South East Caucasus, Moghan Region, 2nd half 19th c.
Size: ca.10 x 44 cm
Notes: Extraordinarily beautiful example of a Qirkhlig, woven in finest Sumakh technique. In good condition, part of the striped kilim back still preserved.