Camel saddle. Wood, hide thongs. Hand-woven trappings.

This antique north Arabian style saddle of tamarisk wood is an outstanding example (and accordingly is rare and valuable). The pommel and rear post (the upper parts of the inverted Y-shaped pieces, tarfa) are patinated from use and decorated on top with a pattern of fine silver pins in compass layout that is readable by touch. The diagonal side strakes are unusually broad and, like the lower portions of the tarfa to which they are bound with rawhide, are heavily decorated with geometric patterns, a mark of this saddle’s superiority. The trappings likewise are fine and scarce. They comprise elaborate woven and decorated cloths to cover the saddle, a soft leather leg rest (meerika) with an attached skirt intricately woven from fine flat leather thongs knotted together to make a fringed breathable cover, ornate saddle bags (horj), cords and braids of different thicknesses and colour woven from camel hair, some for guiding the camel (the cameleer’s equivalent of reins) and others to secure the horj and to hang down, their large tassles to deter flies from the camel’s belly and legs. Padded stand included (not illustrated).