Lot 133

AN ANTIQUE RUG TEKKE

Hand knotted wool rug on wool warp, an antique collector's piece in a wonderful palette of colours used in combination with a particular design circa 1870-1890. This is the type of carpet known among experts as the 'Haupt-Teppich' or 'Main Carpet', or the central carpet for an inhabited circular yurt. Our specimen is a beautiful example of work that was once made in a nomadic environment from hand-spun wool of velvety quality; the striking colours on the wool are purely vegetal and testify to the great skill of the nomadic herders. The main motif of the refined geometric composition, which evolved in Central Asia for about a thousand years, is the octagonal 'gulli göl' rosette, in this case in 5 vertical rows of 17 motifs, with each Turkmen tribal group using its own distinctive rosettes and motifs. The dominant Tekke rosette is complemented by the 'kurbaghe gul' ('frog') element, and the wide border with other characteristic tribal motifs is attractive, dominated by a rayed rosette called 'uriuk gul' (in the complicated nomenclature of Turkmen carpets, the primary motifs are always called 'göl' and all secondary rosettes 'gul'). It is worth noting that, unlike the better-known Oriental rugs from Persia and Anatolia, Turkmen pieces did not gain popularity among collectors and museums until the late 19th century, when rising demand on the Russian market and then in the West led to the production of mostly cheap, bland and, indeed, purely commercial pieces. Our piece still dates from the period of isolation of today's Turkmenistan, when these carpets were not fully understood and accepted; on the other hand, they radiate authenticity. Used condition with numerous signs of age and wear, partially damaged kelim edges, a few minor holes, signs of age and use evident on the fringe, yet this is a fantastic collector's piece that has been professionally cleaned on both sides.