Turkmen Main Carpet

mid-1850s
Overall: 290 x 160 cm (114 3/16 x 63 in.)
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Location: not on view

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Description

In the Islamic world, carpets symbolize status and wealth. A carpet’s origin can be identified by its design, color, and technique. Shades of red and lobed motifs, or guls, are hallmarks of Turkmen carpets woven by nomadic tribes across northeast Iran, Afghanistan, and central Asia. This main carpet of the Yomud tribe features beautiful colors in the guls on a rich aubergine ground; the decorated skirts, or elem, with stylized flora at each end, are its rarest feature. This carpet would have been the prized possession within the living quarters of a round tent, or yurt.
Turkmen Main Carpet

Turkmen Main Carpet

mid-1850s

Turkmenistan, Yomud tribe, 19th century

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