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Collection Artifact Details

salt bag

Object Name: Salt bag
Place Made: Asia: Central Asia, Afghanistan
Period: Late 20th century
Date: 1980
Dimensions: L 42 cm x W 49 cm
Materials: Wool
Techniques: Soumak; knotted pile; slit tapestry woven
ID Number: T2008.1.77
Credit: Gift of Max Allen

Narrative: Salt bags are used by nomadic people in Afghanistan and elsewhere to carry salt and other precious things, with the narrow neck folded over to seal in the contents. Salt bags are usually woven as such, shaped on the loom. However, this bag was cut out and recycled from a piece of a much larger, and probably ruined, rug.