The exhibition focuses exclusively on the saddle bags of the Baluch nomads of Central Asia and on neighboring tribes weaving in the Baluch tradition. The exhibition presents 28 saddle bags woven by nomads that, in the second half of the 19th century and the beginnings of the 20th century, moved between present-day Iran-Afghanistan-Turkmenistan and Baluchistan in Pakistan.
The purpose of the exhibition is to present characteristic and remarkable samples of Baluch art, which have been woven exclusively by women, in order to highlight their artistic value and to emphasize the contribution of the women weavers in the history of nomadic art.
Corfu Museum of Asian Art
WANDERING NOMADS IN CENTRAL ASIA
THE FRANK MARTIN DIEHR COLLECTION
The focus of the exhibition
The exhibition focuses on the bags for transporting items and food with camels and horses, which are one of the most characteristic textiles of the Baluch nomads. Whole bags are presented to make their useful function as a means of transporting objects and food. There are also bag faces with characteristic Baluch motifs, such as the rooster or “chicken”-the pre-eminent symbol of the Baluch-, the “Mina Khani” motif, which is influenced by Persian carpet floral designs, the geometric “tree and animal” motif, etc. The arrangement of the objects follows a thematic and chronological order so that the visitor can easily perceive the variations of each pattern.
The purpose of the exhibition
The purpose of the exhibition is to present characteristic and remarkable samples of Baluch art, which have been woven exclusively by women, in order to highlight their artistic value and to emphasize the contribution of the women weavers in the history of nomadic art. The exhibition focuses on the bags for transporting items and food with camels and horses, which are one of the most characteristic textiles of the Baluch nomads. Whole bags are presented to make their useful function as a means of transporting objects and food. There are also bag faces with characteristic Baluch motifs, such as the rooster or “chicken”-the pre-eminent symbol of the Baluch-, the “Mina Khani” motif, which is influenced by Persian carpet floral designs, the geometric “tree and animal” motif, etc. The arrangement of the objects follows a thematic and chronological order so that the visitor can easily perceive the variations of each pattern.
The works in the exhibition come from the private collection of Frank Martin Diehr, collector and author on Baluch rugs from Wuppertal, Germany. The exhibition is curated by Despina Zernioti CMG, Director of the Museum of Asian Art, and Kassiani Kagouridi, Head of the Department of Museum Collections of the Museum of Asian Art.
