548. A commanding antique Afghan Ersari carpet

548. Provenance: Ersari tribe, Turkoman group, Northern Afghanistan

Age: Circa 1920

Size: 300 x 240 cm

Condition: Excellent for age, with full high pile. Original kilim end remains one end only.

Notes: Classic Ersari 'elephant foot' gul design, but the devil is in the details: this piece has excellent, soft, glossy wool, natural dyes (including several lovely shades of indigo), a wonderful arbrush (natural tonal variation) in the warm madder field, and a tight, even weave. Woolen pile on woolen foundation.