This is a very unusual and amusing bag, and it is hard to know what to make of it. I believe it is South Persian, possibly Qashqai, because of the pattern on the back, but this is only a guess. It isn't especially old, to judge by the number of artificial dyes among the colours, but there is a numeral in the top right corner, illegible to me, which is probably the date. The main motif, a lion with a sword, pink-faced sun hovering behind it, is based on one of the main emblems of Iran. Birds, crudely embroidered, fill most of the rest of the space. It has been heavily used, so the long clean fringe is unexpected. Measuring 29 by 26 cms, it was bought from an Iranian dealer in America.
