Antique Turkmen Engsi, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...
Item Ref
BM2133
This magnificent Turkmen 'engsi' - yurt door-rug - was made by the Yomut tribes in the trans-Caspian Steppes, Turkmenistan during the mid 19th century.
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
Engsis were made to hang on the inside of the yurt door facing inwards, and were importantly symbolic. The lower panels represented the 'sky-door' through which the soul then entered the quartered field which depicted the four gardens of Paradise. Once there, you were spiritually secure. Particularly attractive are the two, powerful lower panels, one in a beautiful shade of sky-blue.
The rug is in very good condition albeit it with a few small areas of staining which might be expected in a piece of this age.
Size: 1.83m x 1.30m (6' 0" x 4' 3").
£2,750
Antique Turkmen Wedding Rug, Teke Tribes, Merv ...
Item Ref
BM2041
This charming little Turkmen wedding-rug was made by a young Teke bride during the second half of the nineteenth century.
The young bride would have made a small rug, as finely knotted as she was able, for her and her future husband to stand on at the wedding ceremony and take their marriage vows.
Wedding-rugs were highly-prized possessions and never intended for sale. Sadly, as the tribes entered the tweentieth century, money might have been scarce and it woulkd have been required to sell their best weavings.
Also, with the Russian advance into Turkmenistan at the end of the 19th century and the massacre of Teke tribes at Merv, many rugs were plundered and eventually sold in the Russian markets. This might have been one of them!
In very good condition, the rug has a madder-red ground and depicting three columns of seven small Teke guls or tribal crests. Particularly attractive are the 'elems' or skirts at each end and complete.
Size: 1.07m x 1.01m (3' 6" x 3' 4").
The young bride would have made a small rug, as finely knotted as she was able, for her and her future husband to stand on at the wedding ceremony and take their marriage vows.
Wedding-rugs were highly-prized possessions and never intended for sale. Sadly, as the tribes entered the tweentieth century, money might have been scarce and it woulkd have been required to sell their best weavings.
Also, with the Russian advance into Turkmenistan at the end of the 19th century and the massacre of Teke tribes at Merv, many rugs were plundered and eventually sold in the Russian markets. This might have been one of them!
In very good condition, the rug has a madder-red ground and depicting three columns of seven small Teke guls or tribal crests. Particularly attractive are the 'elems' or skirts at each end and complete.
Size: 1.07m x 1.01m (3' 6" x 3' 4").
£1,650
Antique Turkmen Prayer-Rug, Kizyl Ayak Tribes, Turkmenistan, ...
Item Ref
BM2110
Made by Kizyl Ayak tribes in Turkmenistan circa 1900, this little prayer-rug comprises a madder-red ground with a vertical row of four 'guls' (tribal-crests) in the centre and surrounded by a pale-yellow inner border creating a double rams-horns motif at the top - symbolising power.
Overall, the rug is in fairly good condition with some isolated wear and a couple of old repairs and thus priced accordingly.
Size: 1.30m x 0.84m (4' 3" x 2' 9").
Overall, the rug is in fairly good condition with some isolated wear and a couple of old repairs and thus priced accordingly.
Size: 1.30m x 0.84m (4' 3" x 2' 9").
£650
Antique Turkmen Engsi, Igdyr Tribe, Astrakhan Province, ...
Item Ref
BM2162
This fantastic Turkmen Engsi (yurt door-rug), must rank as one of the very best in the world market and from the few illustrated in private collections.
Made by the Igdyr tribe - affiliated to the Chowdur and Yomut tribes - it would have been made around the beginning of the 19th century, possibly earlier.
The drawing of the design is superb, comprising an early, natural, deep aubergine-dye, used in the four symbolic gardens with tiny 'birds-heads' and quincunx symbols scattered throughout. It is important to observe how the these tiny symbols have minimal highlighting in the lower two panels and then appear to be more profusely highlighted in the upper two panels. Whatever the weaver was trying to tell us here has sadly been lost in the passage of time.
Particularly striking are the 'elems' - the two lower panels - the upper elem in magnificent glowing madder-red and the lower elem in an abrash of sky and mid blue - absolutely stunning!
I've thoroughly enjoyed it for a week and I must say, I'm sorry to see it go but now it has gone to a very good home where it will be treasured.
If there is a rug to die for then this is it!
Size: 1.76m x 1.33m (5' 9" x 4' 4").
Made by the Igdyr tribe - affiliated to the Chowdur and Yomut tribes - it would have been made around the beginning of the 19th century, possibly earlier.
The drawing of the design is superb, comprising an early, natural, deep aubergine-dye, used in the four symbolic gardens with tiny 'birds-heads' and quincunx symbols scattered throughout. It is important to observe how the these tiny symbols have minimal highlighting in the lower two panels and then appear to be more profusely highlighted in the upper two panels. Whatever the weaver was trying to tell us here has sadly been lost in the passage of time.
Particularly striking are the 'elems' - the two lower panels - the upper elem in magnificent glowing madder-red and the lower elem in an abrash of sky and mid blue - absolutely stunning!
I've thoroughly enjoyed it for a week and I must say, I'm sorry to see it go but now it has gone to a very good home where it will be treasured.
If there is a rug to die for then this is it!
Size: 1.76m x 1.33m (5' 9" x 4' 4").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Main Carpet, Teke Tribes, Turkmenistan, ...
Item Ref
BM/FL
A magnificent main yurt carpet made by Teke Turkmen tribes during the third quarter 19th century. The glowing madder-red is just to die for (excuse the pun) and the carpet is in excellent overall condition with stunning elems (skirts). The weave is as fine as they get as can be seen in the close-up photo and all I can add is that the weaver was obviously at the very height of her weaving ability.
Size: 2.81 x 2.24m (9' 3" x 7' 4").
Size: 2.81 x 2.24m (9' 3" x 7' 4").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Main Carpet, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian ...
Item Ref
BM/YC
This handsome Turkmen main yurt carpet was made by the Yomut tribe in the trans-Caspian Steppes circa 1870-1880. It comprises a beautiful madder-red field with a plethora of Yomut 'dyrnak' guls and protected by a striking ivory main border. The Yomut Turkmen used two types of guls in their main carpets, one being the 'dyrnak' gul, the other being the 'kepse' gul.
Both 'elems' (end panels) are different - stylised trees one end and flowers the other end - which adds to the charm of this magnificent carpet. Added to all this, the selvedges are over-bound in silk which suggests this carpet was made for an important tribal member, such as a khan.
Size: 3.05m x 2.00m (10' 0" x 6' 6").
Both 'elems' (end panels) are different - stylised trees one end and flowers the other end - which adds to the charm of this magnificent carpet. Added to all this, the selvedges are over-bound in silk which suggests this carpet was made for an important tribal member, such as a khan.
Size: 3.05m x 2.00m (10' 0" x 6' 6").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Main Carpet, Teke Tribes, Turkmenistan, ...
Item Ref
BM1532
The very best madder-red can be found on the early rugs, carpets and trappings of the Teke and Salor Turkmen tribes.
Here we see in this fabulous yurt main carpet made by Teke tribes during the mid 19th century, this fantastic use of glowing madder-red on which are depicted the tribal crests or 'guls' of the Teke tribe. You can't get much better than this!
Highly collectible and amongst the very best of type.
3.23 x 1.90m (10' 7' x 6' 3").
Here we see in this fabulous yurt main carpet made by Teke tribes during the mid 19th century, this fantastic use of glowing madder-red on which are depicted the tribal crests or 'guls' of the Teke tribe. You can't get much better than this!
Highly collectible and amongst the very best of type.
3.23 x 1.90m (10' 7' x 6' 3").
SOLD
Rare Antique Turkmen Engsi, Ersary Tribes, Middle ...
Item Ref
BM1980
What a stunner!
A rare Turkmen Engsi - yurt door hanging - made by Ersary nomads in the middle Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan in the early to mid 19th century. The lower elem is stunning in its simplicity as is the central 4 -gardens of Paradise with their depiction of stylised double birds-heads - symbolically representing the guardians of the gates of Paradise.
Illustrated in my book 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' and on the front cover of Uwe Jourdan's 'Turkmen Carpets' this is a highly collectable rug.
Size: 1.60m x 1.35m (5' 3" x 4' 5").
A rare Turkmen Engsi - yurt door hanging - made by Ersary nomads in the middle Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan in the early to mid 19th century. The lower elem is stunning in its simplicity as is the central 4 -gardens of Paradise with their depiction of stylised double birds-heads - symbolically representing the guardians of the gates of Paradise.
Illustrated in my book 'Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent' and on the front cover of Uwe Jourdan's 'Turkmen Carpets' this is a highly collectable rug.
Size: 1.60m x 1.35m (5' 3" x 4' 5").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Main Carpet, Teke Tribes, Turkmenistan, ...
Item Ref
BM2001
Teke Turkmen carpets pre-1900 are among my favourite tribal carpets. These large carpets were specifically made for use in the tent and the most common size is 3m x 2m.
The glowing madder-red ground in this main tent carpet is just magnificent with its four vertical rows of ten Teke 'guls' or tribal crests. In fantastic pile condition all over, this beautiful carpet would have been made circa 1870-1880, probably in the Akhal Oasis of Turkmenistan.
The carpet is complete with its fantastic 'elems' or skirts.
Size: 3.00 x 2.13m (10' x 7').
The glowing madder-red ground in this main tent carpet is just magnificent with its four vertical rows of ten Teke 'guls' or tribal crests. In fantastic pile condition all over, this beautiful carpet would have been made circa 1870-1880, probably in the Akhal Oasis of Turkmenistan.
The carpet is complete with its fantastic 'elems' or skirts.
Size: 3.00 x 2.13m (10' x 7').
SOLD
Antique Tekke Turkmen Carpet, Turkmenistan, Central Asia. ...
Item Ref
BM736
Beautiful colours fill the field of this fabulous Turkmen carpet, made by Tekke tribes circa 1870.
Size: 2.95m x 1.93m (9' 8" x 6' 4").
Size: 2.95m x 1.93m (9' 8" x 6' 4").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Rug, Teke Tribes, Akhal Oasis, ...
Item Ref
BM/MI2
This beautiful Teke Turkmen rug is as good as they get! Finely knotted with a glossy, glowing, madder-red ground - the best colour found in these 19th century Tekes. This fabulous rug dates to circa 1870 and is in near perfect condition, albeit with a small expertly-done re-weave at one corner. Otherwise in great condition. The field depicts three vertical rows of eight Teke 'guls' (tribal crests) and both skirts contain the symbolic entry to the spiritual world.
Size: 1.80m x 1.12m (5' 11" x 3' 8").
Size: 1.80m x 1.12m (5' 11" x 3' 8").
SOLD
Antique Turkmen Engsi, Yomut Tribe, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...
Item Ref
BM1684
This magnificent engsi (yurt door rug) was made by Yomut Turkmen in the trans-Caspian Steppes of Turkmenistan circa 1860-1870. To find engsis of this age and in such amazing condition is pretty rare these days. The vegetable-dye wool is lustrous, soft and glossy and the 'elem' or lower skirt is superbly drawn.
Engsis were made specifically for hanging at the door of the yurt and symbolised the gateway to Paradise.
This is certainly one of the very best made by the Yomut tribe.
Size: 1.67m x 1.35m (5' 6" x 4' 5").
Engsis were made specifically for hanging at the door of the yurt and symbolised the gateway to Paradise.
This is certainly one of the very best made by the Yomut tribe.
Size: 1.67m x 1.35m (5' 6" x 4' 5").
SOLD
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