Old Turkmen Rug | 151 x 103 cm | Nr. 20674

Geometric old Turkmen rug, light brown with border

Origin	Turkey
Dimensions	151 cm x 103 cm (= 1.56 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: wool
knots per m²2	120.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1930
Colour	Light brown, light red
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

This rug was knotted by members of the Turkmen tribes. The Turkmen are known above all for their Buchara rugs. Buchara (sometimes also spelled Bochara) is an oasis city in Uzbekistan that lies on the former Silk Road. Although no rugs were ever knotted in Buchara itself, the city gave its name to many Oriental rugs, because they were traditionally exported to the West from Buchara. The rugs themselves, though, were knotted by Turkmen tribes such as the Yomoudh or the Tekke. This old Turkmen rug is around 90 years old and a real collector's piece.

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Turkmen rug its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room without drawing attention away from the furniture, the décor or the architectural features. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The edge of the rug is graced by a surround (border). The border forms a wonderful contrast to the centre.

The repeating elements of this Turkmen rug have no specific centre. The recurring repeat pattern feels calming, yet never dull. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The surface of this Turkmen rug has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn run across the length of the rug, making the colours shimmer and the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour breaks, or abrash, make the rug look livelier. The mottling occurs because the wool of this Turkmen rug was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural dyes are taken up to differing degrees.

The background of this Turkmen rug is light brown. The border is worked in light brown, light red and dark brown.

Condition

You aren't the first to take a liking to this Turkmen rug. It had owners before you who valued it and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1930. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile has grown only slightly thinner over the years. The fringes of the rug are damaged in places and could do with a repair. We haven't restored this Turkmen rug, because we feel it has a special presence just as it is. If you'd like us to, we'll happily restore the rug for you. Either way, this Turkmen rug will give you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Turkmen rug was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is naturally proofed against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The foundation (weft and warp threads) of this Turkmen rug is made of new wool.