Artwork Page for Turkmen Main Carpet

Details / Information for Turkmen Main Carpet

Turkmen Main Carpet

1870s

Turkmenistan or Afghanistan, Saryk tribe, 19th century

Medium
Wool, silk; 171 symmetrical (Turkish) knots per square inch
Measurements
Overall: 257.7 x 250.2 cm (101 7/16 x 98 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Arlene C. Cooper 2006.201
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Traditionally woven by women and girls, carpets are identified by fiber content, color, weave, and especially the type of rug knot-diagnostic features that are more reliable than designs. This rare carpet is admired for its brilliant color, lustrous wool, and spacious drawing. The main gul, or lobed motif, with three distinctive clover-leaf devices in each quadrant was a hallmark of the esteemed Salor tribe and often copied by other Turkmen tribes. The minor gul and the main border design were also duplicated. Only the minor borders with triangles in contrasting colors are Saryk hallmarks.
A horizontally long textile features thick, deep red wool and silk threads creating a solid background for a precise grid of geometric patterns. Rows of large octagonal medallions with divided brown and white centers repeat across the surface, alternating with smaller diamond motifs. A dark border containing repeating triangular patterns frames the piece on all sides. Small fringes appear along the left and right edges, highlighting the dense, repetitive elements across the formal composition.

Turkmen Main Carpet

1870s

Turkmenistan or Afghanistan, Saryk tribe, 19th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork