Another unusual chanteh

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  • Another unusual chanteh

    Here is another curious chanteh. Someone told me that it was Armenian - possibly because of the cross. Can anyone be more sure or specific?

    All wool, good dyes, about 5" x 8".

    Thanks!

    John

    Click image for larger version

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    Click image for larger version

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  • #2
    Hi John,

    I agree that your little bag could have been made by an Armenian weaver. The colors alone (the probable insect-dyed brownish-red and indigo sulfonic acid dyed-green) suggest East Anatolian to me. This make sense when one considers the large Armenian population in eastern Anatolia prior to the outbreak of WW I.

    In any case, it is a rare and wonderful piece!

    Joseph

    PS: Slit- or weft-interlock tapestry?

    Joseph R. Putnak
    Member
    Last edited by Joseph R. Putnak; 12-13-2025, 01:37 PM.

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    • #3
      John - It looks like a kilim weave but is it possible to post some high resolution images to rule out weftless soumak?

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      • #4
        Hello Joseph -

        Thanks for your thoughts. East Anatolian is an inriguing possibility. I think it's soumak of one kind or another - here is a snap of the bag turned inside out.

        John

        Click image for larger version

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        • #5
          John,

          Yes, the picture of the inside clearly shows a soumak-like weave. Possibly a variant or hybrid because the thin purple band at the top looks more like ordinary kilim weave. There appear to be some variants of “weftless” soumak in which additional ground wefts are interspersed at intervals with weft wrapping, as well as some hybrid weaves combining weftless soumak and kilim. Weftless soumak is associated mainly, if not entirely, with Kurdish weavers. However, that is a broad generalization with likely exceptions. Although I still believe that the bag was likely made somewhere in eastern Anatolia (by Armenian or Kurdish hands) we need input from experts, and perhaps weavers, here.

          Joseph

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          • #6
            After looking through several images of weftless soumak-woven pieces they appear to have a more "sculpted" surface compared to the present bag, the face of which looks more like reverse soumak. However, the weave structure visable on the inside of the bag has features that don't seem typical of reverse soumak.

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            • #7
              Thank you, Joseph. I also wondered if it might be reverse soumak, but the inside of the bag suggests that it might be a variant.

              John

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              • #8
                Hi

                The bottom third of your detail image shows floating weft, a technique that is very common in Baluch work. The upper two-thirds look like a soumak ground and use the weft insertion technique for some of the details. A very close look at the point ends where the yellow terminates into the red would be helpful. At this level of zoom it looks like soumak with compressed wraps and a reduction in weft count - but I can't tell.

                Regards
                Chuck

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                • #9
                  Hello Chuck - I'm not sure that my limited photographic skills can do much more! Thanks, anyway.

                  John

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                  • #10
                    The best I can come up with is that it is some sort of "compound weave" with elements of "reverse soumak" along with other weaving techniques. Not sure that better images will help.

                    One thing I can say for sure is that the iconography - the combination of apparent Christian and folk symbolism - is fascinating. I doubt if you will ever find another like it. It would be welcome in my collection anytime.

                    Joseph

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                    • #11
                      Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate your help!

                      John

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                      • #12
                        Hello, I'm new here.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Guest View Post
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                          Steve Price

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