Ersari tent main carpet
middle Amu Daria, Turkmenistan
circa 1870
Size: 262 x 210 cm
The Ersari were one of eight or so different tribes of the Turkmen people in Central Asia.
The principal motif in most Turkoman artefacts is the ‘gul’, an octagonal medallion repeated in a grid across the field of the rug as seen here.
Tent main carpets such as this were the most important artefact in the yurt.
They were brought out on special occasions as when entertaining honoured guests and laid at the back of the tent.
This is quite a small and early example with a plethora of interesting smaller motifs scattered between the major and minor ‘guls’ across the rich madder-purple ground.
