Trying to learn more about my rugs!

[Alice Wang Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alice Wang]

Hello! I recently purchased 2 rugs, purely for decorating my home, but became curious about their origins and stumbled across this forum while trying to learn more... I would love some help identifying what origins they're from, and also anything special to keep in mind while caring for them for hopefully a long time! Let me know if there are additional helpful photos I can provide.

As far as I can tell, both seem to be Turkmen Afghan rugs with Tekke elements

1st rug - approx 7ft x 11ft, there are 5 rows of 12 guls in the inner section. The rug is a bit warped, definitely some stains + areas where the rug was modestly repaired. (the lighting is a bit weird in these photos - the reds in real life are a bit darker/deeper red, but there definitely seems to be a bit of fading)





2nd rug - approx 5ft x 8ft

[Steve Price Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Steve Price]

I think both are Afghan Turkmen. The upper uses Tekke iconography, but if the weaver(s) were Tekke they weren't living in what we think of as a traditional tribal group. The lower one appears to be Ersari, probably woven in the early 20th century.

Enjoy!

Steve Price

[Phil Smythe Member Find all posts View Profile Close Phil Smythe]

What is the name of this spider-like central 'figure' (cropped image of one of Alice's photos)?

It seems to be used by various 'tribes' so I don't assume it helps in denoting origin does it?

[Joe Lawrence Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lawrence]

Not sure what the name of it is but I have only seen it on mid 20th C rugs and beyond. I believe it’s used in Afghanistan and Pakistan rugs.

[Chuck Wagner Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck Wagner]

Hi,

In "Turkmen" by Mackie & Thompson it is referred to as a Kochak cross. They show it as a center motif in Tekke "chuval" guls (their figure 71), as well as a couple other examples, all Tekke.

Regards
Chuck

[Phil Smythe Member Find all posts View Profile Close Phil Smythe]

Thanks for that info Chuck! So is the figure below just a variation of the 'kochak cross', or is this the 'rams horn' design?

[Chuck Wagner Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck Wagner]

Phil,

The answer to your question is: Yes.

This, because kotchak (or kochak) is the poorly anglicized version of "ram's horn" in Turkmen...

Discussion threads on the topic are out there:
http://www.turkotek.com/salon_00111/s111_t2.htm

Here's a relevant example from PInner & Franses' Turkoman Studies 1:

Regards
Chuck

[Phil Smythe Member Find all posts View Profile Close Phil Smythe]

Thanks Chuck!!