Large rectangular carpets are known as “main carpets,” and served as the primary floor covering in Turkmen tents. The main field in this rug features ten rows of motifs called guls. The guls, roughly octagonal in shape with two red quadrants and two white ones, indicate that this rug was woven by a woman of the Tekke tribe. The rug is an excellent example of Turkmen craftsmanship – the guls are evenly spaced and close but not over-crowded, the weaving is tight and meticulous, and the color palette is vivid yet sedate. The powerful and harmonious composition is a testament to the skill and vision of the weaver.

Object Creation Date

19th century

Medium

Wool warp, weft and pile; asymmetrically knotted pile

Object Type

Carpet

Dimensions

128 x 79 "

Credit

George Walter Vincent Smith Collection

Accession Number

31.23.131

On View?

Yes

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