Turkmen Rug

Turkmen Rug
Design of Turkoman Rug (Rugman)
General information
Name	Turkoman Rug
Original name	قالی ترکمن
Alternative name(s)	Turkoman Carpet
Origin	Iran: Golestan, Khorasan
Category	Village
Technical information
Common designs	Vagireh, Geometric, Trabil
Common colors	Crimson, Navy Blue, White, Green, Red, Brown, Yellow, Blue, Camel
Dyeing method	Natural, Synthetic
Pile material	Wool, Silk
Foundation material	Wool, Cotton
Knot type	Symmetrical (Turkish), Asymmetrical (Persian)

Turkoman rugs are handmade in northwestern Iran, parts of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Syria, and parts of the former Soviet Union. They are usually very similar to one another and very distinguishable from Persian rugs. The patterns that they normally incorporate are all over geometric patterns with the main color being a rich burgundy, which is exclusive to the Turkomans. Often prayer rugs are made in these regions with the same color scheme. They are sometimes referred to as Caucasian carpets. These beautiful articles are genuine and authentic and will add some exotic flavor to a room.

History

Turkmen are a large ethnic Turkic tribal group living in the independent republic of Turkmenistan, and in neighboring countries of Central Asia. Turkmenistan was once part of the historical region of TURKESTAN. Today it is bordered by Uzbekistan to the north and west, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran in the southwest, the Caspian Sea in the west, and Kazakhstan to the northwest. An estimated 10 percent of the Turkmen population is settled in northeastern Iran, and another 10 percent live in northwestern Afghanistan. The Turkmen people live as seminomads, migrating seasonally to work in agriculture, raise livestock, and raise sheep. The women weave traditional tribal items along with rugs and carpets.
Over the centuries, Turkmen tribes migrated from the mountain ranges of Central Asia to Anatolia (Turkey) and 'Persia (Iran). Influences of Turkmen styles are clearly seen in Anatolian, Caucasian, and most Persian tribal weavings. In Anatolia, villages from western and Central Anatolia include the popular Turkmen Gul (flower) motif in their rug designs. In addition, the YORUK and Kurd tribes of Anatolia widely apply Turkmen motifs. In the Caucasus region, weaving districts such as GENDJE, KAZAK, KUBA, and SHIRVAN have also incorporated the Turkmen gul in their weavings. In Persia, the AFSHAR, BALUCH, Kurd, LORI, QASHQAI, and SHAHSAVAS tribes have incorporated Turkmen gul motifs into their designs ever since they started weaving tribal items. Some of these Persian tribes can trace their heritage back to the Turkestan region.
The Turkmen population is divided into several tribes, each of which has its own identifiable designs, coloration, and weaving technique. Notable Turkmen weaving tribes are the TEKKE and YOMUT living largely in the central and western regions of Turkmenistan. The ARABATCHI, CHODOR, ERSARI, SALOR, and SARYK, among other groups, are also known for weaving Turkmen carpets throughout Turkmenistan. Each tribe has its own gul motif style, and the incorporate neighboring tribal gul designs into their weavings. Inside the Turkmen gul motifs can be found - Hook motifs, Star motifs, flowers, leaves, E, S, or C shapes, animals, and other tribal devices. which make the guls emblematic and intriguing Most Turkmen gul motifs have names; for example, the Temirchin, Dyrnak, Gabsa, Turret, Tauk Nuska. Ertmen, Kurbaghe, Chuval, and Gulli Gul (also called “Gushly Gul"). Some of these guls are minor (smaller) flower motifs in the overall carpet desian. In addition, guls are at times given names within the antique market, such as Octagon, C, Eagle, and Compartment Guls.
Turkmen rugs are known in the antique market from the eighteenth century.

Materials

Foundation and Pile

The rugs have a wool foundation with a wool pile. Cotton was also used for the weft. At times, silk or cotton is woven to highlight the design elements.

Techniques and structures

Motifs and Designs

Turkmen rugs are mostly geometric in design, but can also have floral styles. Traditional designs bove two different gul motifs repeated vertically and horizontally woven throughout the field. The gul sizes are interpreted as major and minor motifs in alternating rows in a balanced arrangement. Some designs have thin woven lines crisscrossing through the center of the major gul motifs and throughout the background. These lines create a subtle compartment-box pattern that frames the minor gul in the center. Turkmen design motifs include guls, Shrub motifs, flowers, curled leaves, birds, animals, and other tribal ornaments. Most Turkmen main (room-size) carpets have extended horizontal panels on the upper and lower portions featuring Turkmen motifs. Some small tribal weavings also have an extended plain color field on the lower portion. Many earlier Turkmen main carpets have a long woven KILIM finish on the upper and lower parts of the carpet. At times, this kilim is decorated with horizontal stripes in different coloration.
Turkmen weavings of IRAN are from TEKKE and YOMUT tribes. The designs have traditional major and minor gul motifs similar to the gul styles of Turkmenistan. From the early twentieth century, these Iranian weavings were commercialized and produced in large quantities for export to the West.

Weaving techniques

Either the Turkish (symmetric) or Persian (asymmetric) knot is employed in weaving. Early Turkmen rugs were produced for daily family necessities and decorations. Woven items include ENGSI RUGS (tent doors), Kapunuk (tent door decorations), animal trappings, ASMALYK RUGS (bridal trappings), tent bands, Juval (storage or transport bags), grain bags, Namakdan (salt, bags, Paneer (cheese) bags, Mafrash (pillows or small bags), Torba (tent storage bags), and Okbash (decorative tent pole coverings). Turkmen weavers also produced Namazlyk (prayer rugs). Most Namazlyk rugs that appear in the market date from the turn of che twentieth century, but Ersari examples can be as early as the eighteenth century.

See also

Afshar Rug, Baluch Rug, Kurdi Rug, Lori Rug, Qashqai Rug, Shahsavan Rug

Bibliography

Abraham Levi Moheban, (2015), The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving, NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.