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Very Rare and Early Turkmen Yomut
Prayer Rug
Size: 111.8cm(W) x 127cm(L) / 3'8"(W) x 4'2"(L)
Region: Central Asia ? Turkmen ? Yomut
Item Type: Rugs and Carpets ? Prayer rug
Period / Date: 1800 - 1850
Condition: Very Good
Comments On Condition: The short pile shows localized
wear but is in good condition overall for its significant
age, with few minor reweaves. The selveges are mostly
original. Sawtooth guard stripe missing along the bottom
and partially at the top.
Full Description: As Robert Pinner
states in ORIENTAL RUGS FROM ATLANTIC COLLECTIONS,
"the scarcity of Turkmen prayer rugs woven before
the late 19th century.. . (is because that) prayer rugs
were not part of the early Turkmen weaving
tradition." However, this very rare rug displays a
distinctive, yet subtly articulated, architectural form
of a mihrab at the top of the field, unequivocally
identifying this enigmatic weaving as a prayer rug. Woven
in a region east of the Caspian Sea, this rug conveys all
the design features of a dramatic and unique art weaving.
We know of no other example of this type in the
literature. The winged eagle (Pinner) ornaments are
startling and the palette is very diverse with three
shades of indigo, including green, and three shades of
madder, including apricot. The prolific use of true camel
hair in the details is unusual in Yomut
family weavings. Note the variations in main border
elements as the weaver changes from archaic curled-leaf
motifs to ashik forms to stepped polygon
"Memling" type medallions. It is a stunning
collector piece. Very special.
PUBLISHED:
Dodds, D. R. and M. L. Eiland, Jr., et. al., ORIENTAL
RUGS FROM ATLANTIC COLLECTIONS, Philadelphia ICOC, 1996,
p. 176, pl. 198.
EXHIBITED:
"Central Asian Rugs from Private Collections,"
Philadelphia ICOC, 1996.
"Antique Rugs of the Turkmen Tribes: Masterpieces
from Philadelphia Collections," Arthur Ross Gallery,
University of Pennsylvania, 2003.
Oriental
Rugs the O'Connell Guide
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