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I have been looking for a few years for a saddlebag/heybe from Türkiye. Specifically, one from the Balıkesir area. This is located on the West Coast region somewhat near Bergama.
This saddlebag is somewhat hard to find in an old and used example. It’s called a Yagcibedir (Yaw-gee-bay-dear) which is a name of a group of nomads that lived in a few villiages around the area of Sındırgı which is south of Balıkesır and north of Gördes.
The wool was done with plant dye and the leather that it’s bound in to include the full backsides appears original. The stitching is consistent with a non electric foot powered sewing machine. Based on a similar example that has been posted years ago on this forum to include Hali and at least 3 books it’s published in, I would say it’s fair to date this in the later half of the 19c.
I have always liked the design of this bag and was fortunate to finally come upon one. I can appreciate the used condition this one is in to include the stretched out bags fronts, the worn leather on the sides and back, and finally the stretched out center bridge from being hung up horizontally with a metal ring which is no longer on the bag. I also find it unusual to see a hint of green leather binding on the leather flaps. This to me is a first.
This saddlebag is somewhat hard to find in an old and used example. It’s called a Yagcibedir (Yaw-gee-bay-dear) which is a name of a group of nomads that lived in a few villiages around the area of Sındırgı which is south of Balıkesır and north of Gördes.
The wool was done with plant dye and the leather that it’s bound in to include the full backsides appears original. The stitching is consistent with a non electric foot powered sewing machine. Based on a similar example that has been posted years ago on this forum to include Hali and at least 3 books it’s published in, I would say it’s fair to date this in the later half of the 19c.
I have always liked the design of this bag and was fortunate to finally come upon one. I can appreciate the used condition this one is in to include the stretched out bags fronts, the worn leather on the sides and back, and finally the stretched out center bridge from being hung up horizontally with a metal ring which is no longer on the bag. I also find it unusual to see a hint of green leather binding on the leather flaps. This to me is a first.