C969. Ersari Turkoman Rug, Runner, Oriental Rug - $295

Oriental Rug Review Antiques and Tribal Rugs is pleased to offer a hand made, knotted pile, Ersari Beshir Turkoman Rug in an unusually wide runner configuration, 3'1"x11'2", c 1960s. This is an Ersari Turkoman rug woven in the Andkhoi region of Northern Afghanistan. The immediate ancestors of the woman who wove this rug moved to Northern Afghanistan c. 1917-23 from Turkmenistan to avoid the Russian Revolution and the resulting Civil War. The Northern Afghanistan Ersari have had a most difficult time during the Afghan Soviet War (1979-89) and the ongoing civil war. We know a Turkoman elder, now a refugee in Northern Pakistan, who has twice been an exile from his home, in 1918 and in 1984.

On the red grounded field of this rug are traditional Tekke Turkoman guls, medallions. These are characterized by the appearance in each quarter of the gul of three three leafed clovers and animal heads. Please rely on the direct scans for the best sense of the color and texture of this beautiful rug.

This rug has an exquisite minor border, an adaptation of the Ersari Judar border design made up of a three petal blossom repeat.

Construction: Wool pile on gray wool warps and gray wool wefts, probably natural wool (undyed). Knots are asymmetric, open right. 10 knots to the horizontal inch and 12 to the vertical inch. We often see more knots on the vertical plane because the weaver can compact them with her heavy weaver's comb. Ends: warps terminating in knotted fringe. This rug is in excellent condition, like new, and in full pile.