first half 19th century, 272 x 147 cm, Central Asia, West Turkestan

It was not until publication of the 1993 exhibition catalogue, “Wie Blumen in der Wuste“ (catalogue for the Turkmen exhibition at the Hamburg Volkerkundemuseum on the occasion the 1993 ICOC) that classification of Yomut rugs by subtribes became established practice, at least in the German-speaking countries. The rare border design of this main carpet is considered an identifying feature of the Abdal tribe. Their main carpets are comparatively long and narrow, similar to those of the Karadashli. Here, the field design consists of twelve horizontal rows of three tauk nuska guls. The size of the dyrnak devices placed between the primary guls is a striking feature.

First published by Herrmann in 1980, this Abdal was sold by us in 1993 and passed into a German private collection from which it has now been reconsigned.

HAMBURGISCHES MUSEUM FÜR VÖLKERKUNDE (publ.), Ausstellungskatalog: Wie Blumen in der Wüste. Hamburg 1993, no. 60 *** ELMBY, HANS, Antikke Turkmenske Tæpper II. Copenhagen 1994, pl. 15 *** RIPPON BOSWELL A 54, 20 May 2000, lot 22

HERRMANN, EBERHART, Von Konya bis Kokand. Seltene Orientteppiche III. Munich 1980, no. 95 *** RIPPON BOSWELL A 38, 15 May 1993, lot 76

Slight signs of age and wear in the pile and minor repairs. Cut sides, replaced selvedges, lower finish reduced.