Turkmen tent entrance hanging, ensi

Turkmen tent entrance hanging, ensi
from the Yomut tribe, Turkmenistan
circa 1860
Size: 160 x 140 cm

List price: $. 1,210
Sale price: $. 660

A beautiful Turkmen tent trapping from the third quarter of the 19th century.
The Yomud are one of eight or so different tribes of the Turkmen people who inhabited the area that is now part of the independent states of Turkestan.
The ensi is refers to the knotted rug which hung at the entrance to the Turkmen yurt or oi (the circular felt tent). It is one of the most important artefacts in the tent and is thought to reflect Turkmen cosmogonical beliefs and the organisation of the tent in its design composition – the division of the field into four as the tent in its layout was divided into quadrants. It is damaged but all original borders and elem (bottom panel) are intact and this highly collectible item is commensurately well priced.