Vintage Turkman rug from Afghanistan. 292x80 cms

A very tightly woven vintage Turkman runner with a dramatic pattern. The design is formed by a set of terracotta coloured vegetable motifs (perhaps pommegranates) set in a grid pattern against a very dark brown or black colour. The borders are similarle worked. A strong rug runner that will perform well in a heavy traffic area. 

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool   

Size: 292×80 cms

Origin: Turkmen tribes, Afghanistan

Date of weaving: 1970

 

The turkmen are people who speak a language belonging to the southwestern branch of the Turkic languages. The majority live in Turkmenistan and in neighbouring parts of Central Asia and numbered more than 6 million at the beginning of the 21st century. About one-third of the total population lives in Iran, especially in the north, and another 500,000 live in northeastern and northwestern Afghanistan.  These groups are called the Transcaspian Turkmen. Pockets of Turkmen are found in northern Iraq and Syria. Smaller groups live in central Turkey. The territory of the Turkmen is generally arid. They were by tradition a nomadic pastoral people, living in tent villages and raising sheep, goats, horses, camels, asses, and cattle.