329. A phenomenal 19th Century Tekke Main Carpet

329. Provenance: Tekke tribe, Turkoman, Turkmenistan

Age: Circa 1880

Size: 280 x 224 cm

Condition: Low pile and areas of heavy wear. Structurally still sound though and no repairs/major losses.

Notes: A wonderful and very old Tekke tribal piece showing all the restraint of design and colouring that these Turkomans were famed for. The interconnecting Tekke guls are ancient heraldic symbols - some think they are highly geomectric evolutions of flowers (which would have ceased to be portrayed since Islamic times). The carpet is incredibly fine - it is almost like a blanket or shawl - and can be folded easily into a tight bundle. A great collector piece. Lightweight and easy to fit in a suitcase.