Posted by Yon Bard on December 20, 1998 at 11:47:45:
Jim, I'd be interested in hearing your interpretation of the different variations of the chuval guls, e.g., as depicted by the Pinners in Mackey and Thompson pp. 204-5: what is the significance of flag vs. bracket, or 12-triangle vs. arrows or rosette centers? I won't even ask about different chemches, as there seem to be hundreds of variations.
Another question: do you think the average Turkoman weaver was aware of what her weavings signify, or was she just copying patterns?
Finally, semi-abstract representations such as you claim these to be are usually believed to develop out of earlier, more realistic, representations. If this is the case, where are the 'leopard rugs' and 'horse or elephant rugs' that should have preceded these torbas?
Regards, Yon