Posted by saul yale barodofsky on December 08, 1998 at 15:19:19:
In Reply to: Image to brighten your day posted by R. John Howe on December 08, 1998 at 14:28:34:
Dear John,
This beautiful example is not a Tulu, but rather a Kurdish Baddanni. There does seem to be some amount of confusion in the literature. These baddanni tend to be from the Adiaman area of S.E. Turkey, although they have popped up in the Karapinar region of Konya (mostly due to family relationships). I have seen a few Baddannis which used Mohair AND sheeps wool.
Yes, Wendel is correct (and I thank you), the ones with only Mohair/Angora are called Flikkli.
As to usage, these Kurdish long rugs are called wedding rugs - I have been told that they are used for the wedding night - and, like Yataks, are not meant for floor usage (walking on), but rather for sleeping in. The long ones are placed on the ground, with the long pile facing up, and the person lays upon the rug with their head at the top and then pulls the bottom of the rug over their body (and hopefully their companion).
As to the usage of the smaller tulus: I have seen them used in three ways - never as floor covering. 1. as a guest throw to sit upon. 2. as a covering for infants. 3. and as wall hanging to hold off the evil eye. This last point is specific to those genre of tulus called flikkli.
hope this helps - all best - saul
Dear folks -
: Here to brighten your day is a image from Taher Sabahi's Ghereh, 14, article on Tulus.
: This one's long enough for anyone of any height to actually sleep on. The caption says: "The large elongated format of this tulu (filikli) is perfectly suited to the tents of the Anatolian nomads. It has a deep robust pile decorated with the most classical of amulets: concentric squares." 410 x 137 cm (13'6" x 4'6")
: Someone has said that the concentric squares (that also appear on the Central Asian julkhyrs) indicate man's place in the universe.
: It would be interesting to hear someone like Saul, who has actually seen them used, describe how the short versions are used while sleeping. Does one lay on them and if so do the feet "hang off?" Or are two used together to provide for a person's entire torso? Or do they serve as blankets? Sabahi suggests that they are used as ground coverings on top of layers of felt. Or on couches.
: Regards,
: John Howe