Tuareg Leather Purses

These beautifully decorated purses are of the type widely used by the nomadic Tuaregs, essential and secure, as there are no real pockets in their Desert clothing !!
Made from Leather with Woollen tassels .. their patterning depicts many variations on a triangular theme. Triangles, often seen in Tuareg designs, are considered as good eyes which can oppose the power of an evil eye, fear of which is common to all people of Berber origin. The antique purses below are from Niger via Bamako in Mali.

Modern

Total length closed 11 ins / 28 cm
plus 12 ins / 30 cm leather tassels
Width 6 ins / 16 cm  Two Purse
ATB 558 g    £45

Antique

Total length closed 9 ins / 23 cm
Width 4.5 ins / 13 cm  Two Purse
ATB 558 e    £55

For more Mauritanian leather work
Click HERE

Antique

Total length closed 8 ins / 20 cm
Width 4 ins / 10 cm  Two Purse
ATB 558 d    £60

How they operate

Hung around nomad tribesmen's necks, concealed under their Jellabas .. the outer cover slides up on its two strings to reveal,
in the above case, two lift-up leather flaps covering the purses, one on top of the other.

Modern

An attractive hand-stitched leather
circular bag from Agadez in Niger
with drawstring closing of its fluted sides
Height 7 ins / 18 cm
Width 4 x 5 ins / 10 x 13 cm
ATB 558-01   £35

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