Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Central Asian (7)

A rectangular one-piece silver belt buckle, the front side decorated with birds and tendrils in niello and with gilt center. Dated with Arabic numerals corresponding to 1868. Brass brackets. Condition: some traces of usage. Dimension: 7.1 cm long x 5 cm wide.

A fine snuff tobacco container made of a dried, double gourd, decorated with gilt silver mounts and inset with carnelian and tiny blue and white cabochons. The ram horn-shapped stopper is attached to an elaborate silver chain. These tobacco containers were used by the Turkman tribes. Condition: fine, few traces of usage. Dimension: c. 14.8 cm long, Diameter: c. 6.2 cm.

The central field composed of different parts of a silk ikat-dyed textile with amulet and boteh pattern. Bordered by bilious green silk panels and red cotton. Condition: discolored. Dimension: c. 210 cm x 120 cm.

Composite panel of antique embroideries from the Ottoman Empire, made into a rectangular shaped woman’s prayer cloth indicating qibla, the direction of prayer. The basic fabrics are different plain weaves, embroidered with silk and metal wrapped threads, composed and sewn together in the Ottoman city of Salonika or Kavala. With plain lining and one side with silk fringes. For similar example please refer to "Textiles of the Islamic World" by John Gillow: page 32 with illustration...

A beautiful pair of genuine arm cuff bracelets worn by the women of the Turkmen Tekke tribe. They are made of silver with gilding and set with carnelian cut with flat top. From an old Swiss collection. Cf. Schletzer, Dieter, and Reinhold: Old Silver Jewellery of the Turkoman: An Essay on Symbols in the Culture of Inner Asian Nomads. Berlin: D. Reimer, 1983: similar pair: No. 221. Condition: good, some traces of usage, unpolished. Dimension: 9.7 cm long x 6.3 cm wide, weight: 532 g.

A large Susani needlework composed of three length of mustard yellow cotton hand embroidered in polychrome silks. This kind of Susanis where used as bed sheet for the wedding night. The sides of the mehrab with flowering pomegranates ending in a large floral roundel. Trimmed with a woven band. Ikat and red cotton lining with „mir-i-boteh“ pattern. Condition: faded, especially the interior of the mehrab with splits, some stains, bottom half with partially consumed and worn embroidery...

Jewelry for the headdress of a Turkmen unmarried woman, made of silver and set with red glass cabochons. These domed finals were fixed on the girl's cap called "Tjubetejka", according to Schletzer decorated with a bird's feather meant the young woman was affianced. From an old Swiss collection. Cf. Schletzer, Dieter and Reinhold: Old Silver Jewellery of the Turkoman: An Essay on Symbols in the Culture of Inner Asian Nomads. Berlin: D. Reimer, 1983, pages 182 - 183...