Ethnographic Textiles and Garments from Our Tribe: Items for sale... Please scroll down the page to browse.

Order inquiries? Please write to me at: Ruby AT tribaljewelry DOT com .

Textiles: We are NOT the "little black dress" people...

 
Tobacco bag: Central Asian chanteh. There generally were no pockets in chapans or kurtehs, so these small bags were tucked under your belt. They were used as carriers for tea leaves, make-up, money or other small valuables. Clean, excellent condition. The front of this bag is solid petit-point/ half size cross stitch. Excellent rendition of the traditional memling gul. Beautiful Turkoman style embroidery all around the edges, on both sides, and the back has a wonderful panel of velvet. See back. Still very useable. $65.
A0121: A 19th century West African Saharan Berber wedding shawl of extremely fine weave and complex design was transformed into a vest. It was a fragment and this was an effort to try and preserve it for further use and enjoyment. view1 * back view2 * back close view3 * view4 * It's a short vest with deep armholes, fitting a wide range, from a woman size 6 up to a man with a 48" chest. 3 decorative black buttons and various trims added. Beautifully made and pristeen. $380.
 
Syrian or Palestinean Sash / Runner /Fancy Cotton weave. New, never used or worn. Luxurious, fine, substantial, tightly woven cotton. 55 inches by 18 inches. Complicated weaving technique i do not know how to describe. Rich colors, pure red, white, gemmy green, vivid hot pink, a blue that is somewhere between royal and navy, lavender, yellow, lime, orange and black. All of the colors are not immediately evident because of the fine thread count. This is very solid and tightly woven with all sorts of fancy needle tricks. I cannot believe it was machine made, but i am not sure. It is a fascinating textile. No odors, no stains, no holes! Close-up. $22.
 
Habibi bag -- RARE! I have been collecting for over 12 years. -- only ever saw a few of these-- showing up usually in antique shops. Obviously a woman's personal handbag. Comforting to carry at one's side. MADE as a handbag or purse, not reconstructed later out of scraps of old kilims or whatever. This is a genuine collectible quality item. BOTH PILE and FLATWEAVE in one textile. It is SO similar to the Eaklik, or spindle keeping bag so well known by collectors. I do not know the exact tribal affiliation, perhaps BAKHTIARI, SW Persian tribal, Turkoman, Belouch, or Kurd, but probably in general from the geographic location of Iran. It is in exquisite vintage condition, no odors, holes or other nasties. Click links below for more pictures. You will be pleased. 12 by 13 inches, and the beautiful strap is currently at a 12 inch drop, but adjustable. All handwoven wool, all natural dyes, a wonderful green too! Circa 1950's? $52.
Picture left to right : Habibi bag,
Animal Girth or baby wrap, ( authentic older handwoven YURT band. Wonderfully woven jijim style and has the same appearance front and back/reverse. 8 Feet and 3 inches long (99 inches) by 3 inches wide, not including fringe. $29.)
and a small jijim-made bag ($24.). picture 2 . picture 3 .
 
A0120: Vivid hand block-printed cloth, featuring a deity from the Hindu pantheon, probably Lord Shiva. Also features Sanscrit writing, the symbol for "om," and Siva's trident as a border element. Traditional "Puja cloth" shawl. Base cloth is a rich peach color with a red print. Overview. Gold, soft metallic threads on 3 margins. This fabric is nicer than the average. 7 ft. long by 42" wide. Brand-new. $37.
 

Prices do not include shipping. References

write to me at: Ruby AT tribaljewelry DOT com with questions, or to order...

 

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A060: Early 20th Century Bridal/dowry gift, "ruidjo" to be placed as a bedspread. 1900 to 1920, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Just the right size for a full bed. Impeccable condition, Master level embroidery.. SOLD.
 
A061: This magnificent (there is no other word) ikat chapan was a woman's winter coat in the 1st Quarter 19th C, i estimate 1815-35... This has a scooped front lapel/neckline because of the fashion to wear them closed at the waist but exposing the bustline. The ikat material is strong and undamaged, with no repairs. To have one that is this old, and in EXCELLENT condition, all original, handwoven trim, no rips or stains, etc.... is just wonderful. The higher waistline has slightly more curve from a few pleats which also differentiate it from the cut of men's chapans. It compares favorably to what's in the books. It's lightly quilted in the bodice and skirt, the arms are slightly more padded, yet roomy. Another rare factor: it easily & comfortably fits up to a misses size 16. This chapan shows influences of the whole world around it-- China, the Indian subcontinent and maybe even Europe. I love the botehs.... There is a fascinating Russian ink mark stamped on the sleeve, (It's unobtrusive) and if you had some Russian reference books, you might be able to make more sense out of it than i can. Who knows, this piece may have been ex-museum. It was acquired in Uzbekistan. The price is $650. SOLD.
 
Woman's all silk Ikat chapan from Khorezm, Uzbekistan, can be firmly dated to c. 1850... probably better than the one in Kalter's "Uzbekistan," p.241. Pomegranates, combs, and stylized cypresses. Lined with cotton. Will fit up to 1x. A thing of exquisite beauty and extreme rarity. $495. SOLD.
 
A063: Fall in love with this authentic old Bani Malik dress, mid-20th century, from the Asir region of Arabia. These are becoming quite difficult to find. This particular design also has influences from the Hijaz region. Lusciously arranged with embroidery and beading on the black cotton sateen exterior, all but 1/8 of the interior is lined with soft cotton grain sacking cloth. Clean, no smells, absolutely wonderful feel in the hand -- and with all the eccentricity, care, and special warmth you'd expect in a vintage handmade garment. Very good condition. I hope you have the book: Traditional Crafts of Saudi Arabia, by John Topham, as a reference? If you are buying it to wear, (there are also several museum curators that buy from me) i'd say it fits a size 8 or 10, or 36" bustline. The entire dress is quite spacious, and has 3/4 length sleeves, but the bustline is the determining factor on whether it fits you. SOLD.
 
A062: Woman's wrapper, with rich indigo dye, and fantastic embroidery from the Fulani (Wodaabe) people of Western Africa. 75 to 80% of the indigo base cloth is a medium-weight cotton, native handwoven fabric and the top section is a soft Indian cotton sateen, imported. If you wear any size up to the smaller side of misses size 14, this makes a great wrap skirt.... ankle length. The embroidery is THE BEST POSSIBLE from this region -- i am proud to offer it -- i really can't imagine you would find better quality anywhere else. (If you could find it at all?) The symbols seen in this embroidery stand for: split branch, winding road, and sleeping. (Not in order.) Excellent condition. See page 169 in "Nomads of Niger" by Beckwith and Van Offelen. (I recommend the book too.) SOLD.
 
Tekke boy's tie for good luck! Turkoman children in many ways dressed just like adults, but with much additional effort put into protecting them from unhealthy psychic elements. This tie was made for a cherished boy, and all of the embroidery was considered protective. SOLD.
Hat8: Here's a wonderful collector's cap. It is ridged, reinforced and quilted, with petit-point cross stitch. Gul design with silver and gold metallic threads. Extremely well constructed by hand: a lot of work goes into these caps. SOLD.