EAST TURKMENISTAN, CIRCA 1850

The main elements of the design of this carpet are well-known from a number of other Saryk carpets; in particular the main gul is one of the two most commonly encountered on such carpets and the main border is also typical. In contrast to the majority of examples the present carpet has a far more intense red that is much closer in tone to the reds found in Salor carpets than in most examples woven by the Saryk. Another very unusual feature is the secondary gul which seems to be unique in Saryk carpets. It appears to be an expanded version of a secondary gul found on a beautiful Salor torba (Werner Loges, Turkoman Tribal Rugs, Munich, 1980, no.19, pp.42-3). This outstanding carpet was obviously intended to impress. Not only are the colours magnificent, and the use of silk and cotton far higher than normally encountered, but even the kilims have very small designs worked into the finish to further decorate them.