Salor Torba
140 x 63 cm (4' 7" x 2' 1")
Turkmenistan, early 19th century
Condition: very good, mostly good pile, minimal professional restoration
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool with silk highlights

The name given to the design by the Turkmen is 'kejebe', since the design is reminiscent of the bride's wedding litter that sits atop a camel during the wedding ceremony. Although this torba is not directly related to this ceremony, the exceptional quality of the dyes and weaving indeed places it at the same level as the most highly prized and prestigious weavings associated with the wedding.
The variety and clarity of the colours are exceptional, in particular the range of colours achieved from indigo. Furthermore, the ratio between vertical and horizontal knots has created design elements that are both tall and elegant, whilst also possessing real breadth.
This torba also features a number of unusual elements. Firstly, the four complete gols displayed across the width of the field put this in the smallest group of this design type. The tall forms within the arches have three-stepped triangular forms on their sides as opposed to arms, and the top and bottom reserves within which the Memling gul form sits have small white hooks - all unusual features.
It is interesting to note, particularly on Salor weavings, that the most telling characteristic of the overall quality of the weaving is often the articulation of the borders and the top and bottom decorative panels. This example is a case in point, with both of these areas being fully indicative of the overall quality of the weaving.