Yet another Ensi - ID help needed

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

Here is an unusual Ensi. I haven’t seen one like it before. I did send a picture of it to a well known person associated with Turkoman rugs who said it was very interesting and Ersari looking yet Tekke. I was lucky to stumble upon this piece a few months ago.

The size is 145 x 104cm. I little smaller than most. I can assume it’s an unusual piece based on the previous owner. No need to mention names but had the ability to buy what he wanted.

Thank you in advance for any info.

Joe Lawrence

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

This is the backside

[PaulSmith Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PaulSmith]

You have some interesting pieces, for sure!

I really don't think this is a Tekke piece. Colors, designs, etc. are not Tekke. The selvage wrapping appears to be brown, not the blue you'd see in a Tekke, and the warps sure don't look like the standard ivory of a Tekke, but the gray-brown of Ersari weaving. I think it is definitely Ersari, and IMO second-half 19th-c., however, while it has the distinctive Ersari ensi border (interesting how the openings in the C-shaped elements are filled with four knots of the red color), a small elem at the bottom, and a quartered field--so certainly many ensi features--but it lacks the arch. I have seen other unusual small Ersari rugs that have been called ensis, but I wonder if the weavers were making small rugs (dowry rugs?) that had ensi features, but were not for hanging.

In any case, another beautiful Turkmen weaving in great shape.

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

Great info and observations. Thank you.

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

I agree with Paul. Nothing about it says Tekke to me.

Steve Price

[James Blanchard Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close James Blanchard]

Interesting rug. I agree with others that I highly doubt it was woven by Tekke weavers. Beyond the design and palette, the presence of dark coloured warps strikes me as being very unusual for Tekke weaving.

My guess would be Ersari, or perhaps Uzbek weavers.

James