The Textile Museum Associates of Southern California and the New England Rug Society have arranged a virtual lecture and presentation “Nomads of West Iran and Their Amazing Transport Bags” by Paul Ramsey Saturday 25 January 2025.
This presentation will explore the main nomadic groups of the Zagros region in western and southern Iran: like the Shahsavan, Kurds, Luri, Bakhtiari, Qashga’i, and Khamseh Federation. It will feature examples of their transport bags, showing how they were used and how they are valued today in collections.
Iran’s special geography and climate have supported nomadic herding for thousands of years. These nomads moved with their flocks of sheep, goats, and pack animals between winter pastures and the summer grasslands of the Zagros Mountains. When winter came, they returned to the lower pastures.
During their journeys, pack animals carried everything the nomads needed for daily life: tents, rugs, bedding, clothes, food, and cookware. These items were packed in handmade bags, created by the women. The bags came in many shapes and sizes, such as the double-sided khorjin or trunk-like mafrash. The front of the bags was often beautifully decorated, making them works of art.
Paul Ramsey, an expert in rugs and textiles, has spent decades studying and sharing his knowledge about them. He began his career in the 1970s and taught a popular course called ‘The Magic Carpet Ride’ for over 30 years. He curated an exhibit called Rugged Beauty at the Denver Art Museum in 2022–23, showcasing beautiful rugs from museums and local collections. In 2024, Paul Ramsey received the Joseph V. McMullan Award for his contributions to the study of rugs and textiles.
More information and registration on zoom link.