Posted by Wendel Swan on June 28, 1999 at 22:16:39:
In Reply to: Re: Why the difference? posted by Jim Allen on June 28, 1999 at 20:55:08:
Jim Allen posted:
: : Well the obvious reasons are Turkomans are better made by a very long shot and they were in essence representations of money. In feuds in local Tennessee mythology there are stories about brothers tearing a large denominational bill in two. There are rugs, old Turkoman rugs, which have been ripped down the middle. Turkomen rugs were money in every possible sense of the word. Part of their value was in their appeal and that was connected to designs. Designs were stored in old weavings which were kept because of their outstanding quality and didactive ability. The Turkomen people NEEDED to keep their old rugs around because rugs were in actuality much more important to the Turkoman as a means of getting critical supplies. Let me remind you the Turkoman life without the products of the city, guns , bullets, knives,oil, salt etc., was identical to stone age existence. People seem to forget just how incredibly hard was this life. Jim
Dear Jim,
As I said in an earlier post, I believe nearly all the rug weaving cultures treated their rugs not merely as a symbol of wealth, but as wealth itself. Stories abound of precious rugs being cut up in a division of inheritance or booty.
As for the "stone age" existence, one need not be a Turkmen expert to recognize the exceptional material, skill and time that went into producing some of the exquisite old pieces. It is immediately apparent that they could not have been made for or owned by poor people.
Wendel