Turkmenistan antique Tekke carpet (240 x 193cm)

SOLD

240 x 193cm // 7'10" x 6'3"

The carpet is a fascinating study representing a pre Russian contact period possibly even from 18th cent. The monumental drawing and the presence of a small area containing silk details possibly using insect laq dye. Outer parts of the borders are missing as well as what was once a very long flatwoven ends so the probable size may have once been 10 x 6ft 6" originally. Unfortunately the carpet has sustained awful attempts at conservation with the use of patches held by glue ! An earlier attempt to patch is fascinating since the repairers have used other venerable antique carpet pieces of a similar type to patch in using pieces as old or even older. One such patch evidently  from an archaic chuval or storage bag. Such practices were known in the Bazaar in Peshawar (on the border of Afghanistan ) around 1900 and sold antique carpets to serving British military and colonial officers resulting in such treasures reaching Blighty ( described interestingly by Harley Clark in the 1920s. ) The carpet here then might seem likely to have had such a heritage.  

18/19th cent

Ref 19467