Lot 142

KARAKALPAK RUG

Hand-knotted carpets from so-called Karakalpakstan rarely make it to the international scene, and are then mistakenly classified as the production of various Turkmen tribes. However, the composition, texture as well as the unique colour palette place this woolen carpet in the Kyzylkum desert region at a time when Lake Aral was still a respectable body of water and the Karakalpaks grazed their large herds between the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers. The carpet's composition betrays a Central Asian love of archaic geometric patterns, and the austerely stylized flowers in strangely skewed hexagons reflect the sparse vegetation of the arid desert steppes with impressive and almost touching fidelity. The border with a zigzag, symbolizing flowing water, is also impressively simple. The colours of the carpet also contribute to the powerful impact on the viewer - apart from the natural indigo, which created the shades of blue, it is the beautiful palette of orange and ochre shades that is particularly striking. We know from not too many sources that these durable and high-quality colours were created by long cooking of onion skins and mulberry leaves. Professionally cleaned on both sides.