Shahsevan bag faces
	In 1980 the rug world was in chaos. In Iran, the Iranian revolution, in Afghanistan the Russian invasion. Somehow a group of Shahsevan bag faces found their way to Kabul. We purchased these bag faces from the well-known Abdul Istalifi (Sufi Abdul) at that time. We assume that they came from the collection of an Iranian carpet dealer. Specialists might be able to give detailed attributions of tribal origins, but in 1980 any bag faces like these were known as Shahsevan. Most pieces are made of two panels of a bag or mafrash sewn together. Most are obviously very old, with an estimate of mid-19th century being likely. Many have old repairs, and lack any selvage. They are beautiful in design and colour, and could be mounted or framed.

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