Turkmen Rugs: Guide to Saryk Turkmen Rugs & Carpets

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Guide to Saryk Turkmen Rugs & Carpets

Phases of Saryk Rugs

The Saryk are one of the original 23 tribes of the Oghuz. In the early 19th century they defeated the Salor and for a short period of time were the preeminent Turkmen tribe until losing to the Tekke.

Saryk rugs fall into three phases:

1. First phase has a soft clear orange red as the field color no silk or cotton pile Turkish knots and a soft apricot color in the Gul.
2. Second Phase rugs often use silk and cotton in the pile, insect dyes and the main field red tends more to a blue or a brown red than the orange red of the first phase. Gul quadrants use a color more orange than the apricot of the First Phase rugs. Both Turkish and Persian knotting are seen in Second Phase.
3. Third Phase: Colors are darker and brown and purple brown are seen as field colors. At worst there is garish overuse of insect dyed silk and cotton as white. Rugs use Turkish knots.

First phase has a soft clear orange red as the field color no silk or cotton pile Turkish knots and a soft apricot color in the Gul.

The Thompson Saryk Turret Gul Juval 2. Second Phase rugs often use silk and cotton in the pile, insect dyes and the main field red tends more to a blue or a brown red than the orange red of the first phase. Gul quadrants use a color more orange than the apricot of the First Phase rugs. Both Turkish and Persian knotting are seen in Second Phase.

Saryk 3rd Phase Rug 3. Third Phase: Colors are darker and brown and purple brown are seen as field colors. At worst there is garish overuse of insect dyed silk and cotton as white. Rugs use Turkish knots.

Saryk Torba

Saryk Weaving:

Two Rippon Boswell Saryk Yolami Fragments

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and the Iran. Mostly Turkmenistan.

Size: Bags rugs and carpets.

• In discussing a group of Carpets O'Bannon wrote:"Of the early carpets, the smallest was 7'x7' (Thacher), which coordinates with one of the smallest number of guls, 4x9. The largest is Lot 123 at 9'1"x711". In general the oldest were squarish in dimension. Later pieces were more rectangular, 10'3"x7' 11", 7'3"x4'8"." O'Bannon, The Saryq Main Carpet

Structure: 1st and 3rd phase Symmetrical knot.2nd phase may be Asymmetric open left. 100 to 250 KPSI. No depression to slight warp depression in older rugs and deeper depression increasing to deep der on very late rugs.

• Knots Per Square Inch. Densities recorded were 108 (Lot 123), 112 (Grote-Hasenbalg, Plate 85, est.), 162 (Jones/Schürmann), 200-250 (Thacher but probably 125), 134 (Herrmann VI), 135 (Lot 133), and 144 (Franses). O'Bannon, The Saryq Main Carpet.

• "Saryk weavings the vertical to horizontal (knot) ratio is 1:1.5-2.0" O'Bannon , A White Central Asian Asmalyk of a Rare Type

• George OBannon wrote: "There are two implied assumptions which present problems in assessing these rugs. The first is: if they are Turkish knotted, they are Saryk. We know from past and current production that the Yomud Turkoman tribal groups used both the Turkish and Persian knots. The Saryk Turkomans in Afghanistan today weave rugs with both types of knots. They probably did so in the past." http://www.rugreview.com/82saryq.htm

Yarn & Pile: Z Spun wool

• Cotton and Silk. The oldest rugs are believed to have neither. Silk and, occasionally, cotton are found in mid-century weavings. Their use increases dramatically late in the century and in early 20th century rugs. Neither are common in mid-20th century Saryq rugs from Afghanistan. O'Bannon, The Saryq Main Carpet.

Warp: Two ply wool

Weft: 2 shots gray, brown or ivory wefts (Black in late 3rd phase)

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Most often weft faced plain weave.

• Also overhand knots with warp fringe. Mallett shows a pile mafrash with an expanded plainweave band of fine brown wool interlaced on 3 warp units. Mallett, Woven Structures 14: 1

Selvages: Attached Interlaced selvage with free floating warps. Mallett, Marla. Woven Structures 15: 40

Handle: Light - medium. later rugs get a progressively heavier handle as warp depression increases. .

Turreted Guls:

The Thompson Saryk Turret Gul Juval

Turreted Gul pieces were originally attributed to the Salor but as Rug scholarship advanced it became obvious that turreted Gul were attributable to the Salor, the Saryk, and to the Tekke. It has been suggested that Saryk only started weaving them after they defeated the Salor but Turkmen Expert James Allen feels that while rare there are Turreted Gul Saryks in all three phases and that the Saryks have always woven that design.

Saryk Rugs & Carpets:

The Thompson Saryk Juval Lot 25

The Thompson 19th C. Saryk Juval Fragment Saryk Trapping Prior to 1800 Rippon Boswell Lot 91 Small Saryk Torba with Wide Border 2. H. 19 Rippon Boswell Lot 91 Rippon-Boswell complex grid Saryk Torba lot 40 Saryk 3rd Phase Rug The Saryk Anomaly Saryk Turkmen Main Carpet Fragment Saryk Kedgbe. Saryk Juval Saryk Kejebe Bridal Trapping Two Rippon Boswell Saryk Yolami Fragments Rippon-Boswell Saryk Yolami lot 43 The Spuhler, Elmby, Hamburgische Museum Saryk Carpet Fragment Turrett Gul The Thompson Saryk Turret Gul Juval Lot 26 Gallery-Arabesque Turret Gul Saryk Chuval or Asmalyk Van-Ham Saryk. Ende 19.Jh Van-Ham Saryk-Tschoval. 19. Jhdt Van-Ham Auberginefarbigem Grund Saryk The W&W Pair of Saryk Turkmen part silk and cotton chuvals Van-Ham Saryk-Engsi. Um 1900 Rippon-Boswell 17th/18th C. Saryk Ensi lot 62 The Hort c. 1890 Pende/Saryk Ensi Van-Ham Saryk Tschowal-Muster Hauptteppich Van-Ham Auberginefarbigem Grund Saryk Thompson Sale Saryk Juval Lot 25 The Thompson Saryk Turret Gul Juval Lot 26 Saryk Gapaluk Lot 27 Saryk Juval Lot 28 Saryk Juval Lot 29 The Thompson 19th C. Saryk Turkmen Main Carpet Lot 30 Rippon-Boswell Saryk Ensi lot 62 Lot 23 Interesting Books On Turkmen Rugs: Eiland, Murray L Jr. Oriental Rugs A New Comprehensive Guide. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1993 3rd edition. Krader, Lawrence. Peoples of Central Asia. Bloomington Indiana: Indiana University, 1966. Mackie, Louise & Thompson, Jon. Turkmen. Washington DC: Textile Museum, 1980. Reuben, David M. Gols and Guls: Turkmen Carpets from the 18th and 19th Centuries. London: 1998 Saunders, Peter E. Tribal Visions. Novao Ca: 1980. Tsareva, Elena. The Dudin Collection. Meredith: Oriental Rug Auction Review, Inc., 1990. Articles that you may be interested in: Saryk Torba Selections from the Thompson Oriental Carpet Sale SHRINE PILGRIMAGE IN TURKMENISTAN by David Tyson

Turkmen Books:

This list is not meant to be comprehensive but rather it is to to give you an idea of what has been published.

Andrews, Mugal and Peter: Turkmen Needlework, Dressmaking and Embroidery Among the Turkmen of Iran ; London: 1976.

Arsh, Z.: Turkmans of Iran ; Iran: 1991. Text in Farsi-English.

Elmby, Hans: Antique Turkmen Carpets IV ; Copenhagen: 1998.

Andrews, Peter et al.: Wie Blumen in Der Wuste ; Hamburg: 1993.

Arsh, Z.: Turkmans of Iran ; Iran: 1991.

Azadi, Siawosch: Turkoman Carpets and the Ethnographic Significance of their Ornaments. ; Fishguard, UK: 1975.

Azadi, Siawosch: Turkmenische Teppiche ; Hamburg: 1970.

Barthold, V.V.: Four Studies on the History of Central Asia ; Leiden: 1962

Bedaghi, Zabihollah: Niazjan and Turkman Rugs ; Tehran: 1990. Farsi text

Beresneva, L: The Decorative and Applied Art of Turkmenia ; Leningrad: 1976.

Brown, D. and I. Gillan: An Exhibition of Our Collection of Turkoman Rugs ; Vancouver: 1976.

Clark, Hartley: Bokhara, Turkoman and Afghan ; London: 1922.

Elmby, Hans: Antique Turkmen Carpets ; Copenhagen: 1990.

Elmby, Hans: Antique Turkmen Carpets II ; Cohenhagen: 1994. Danish and English text.

Elmby, Hans: Antique Turkmen Carpets III ; Copenhagen: 1996.

Elmby, Hans: Antique Turkmen Carpets IV ; Copenhagen: 1998.

Gombos, Karoly: Alte Zentralasiatische Teppich-Regi Kozepazsiai Szonyegek (Central Asian Rugs) ; Budapest: 1979.German/Hungarian text.

Gombos, Karoly: Turkmenian Rugs ; Budapest: 1984. Hungarian-English.,

Gombos, Karoly: Regi Turkmen Szonyegek (Turkoman Rugs) ; Budapest: 1975. English/Russian text.,

Hassouri, Ali: Turkman and Neighbouring Tribes' Carpet Patterns ; Tehran: 1992.

Hoffmeister, Peter: Turkoman Carpets in Franconia ; Edinburgh: 1980.

Jourdan, Uwe.: Oriental Rugs Vol. 5 Turkoman ; Augsberg: 1988.

King, D. et al.: Turkoman Rugs in the Victoria and Albert Museum ; London: 1980.

Loges, Werner: Turkoman Tribal Rugs ; Munich: 1980.

Mackie, Louise W. and Dr. Jon Thompson: Turkman Tribal Carpets and Traditions ; Washington: 1980.

McMullan, Joseph V. and Donald O. Reichert: The G.W.V. and B.T. Smith Collection of Islamic Rugs at the Smith Art Museum ; Springfield, Ma: 1970.

Melzhitova, El'mira: Turkmen Folk Art ; Ashkabad: 1990. Ashkabad Museum collection catalog of rugs, felts, embroideries and jewelry. Russian text.

Melzhitova, El'mira: Turkmen Folk Art ; Ashkabad: 1990.

Michaud, Roland and Sabrina: Caravans to Tartary ; NY: 1978.

Moshkova, V.G. edited by George W. O'Bannon: Carpets of the People of Central Asia ; Tucson: 1996.

Murav'yov, Nikolay: Journey to Khiva through the Turkoman Country ; London: 1977.

Pinner, Robert and Murray L. Eiland Jr.: Between the Black Desert and the Red, Turkmen Carpets from the Wiedersperg Collection ; San Francisco: 1999.

Pinner, R. and M. Franses ed.: Turkoman Studies I ; London: 1980.

Rueben, David: Gols and Guls, Turkmen Carpets from the 18th and 19th Centuries ; London: 1998.

Sotheby's: "Turkmen and Antique Carpets from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Jon Thompson" ; NY: 1993

Pinner, Robert and Murray L. Eiland Jr.: Between the Black Desert and the Red, Turkmen Carpets from the Wiedersperg Collection ; San Francisco: 1999.

Reed, Christopher: Turkoman Rugs ; Cambridge, Ma: 1966.

Rueben, David: Gols and Guls, Turkmen Carpets from the 18th and 19th Centuries ; London: 1998.

Schletzer D. & R.: Old Silver Jewellery of the Turkoman ; Berlin: 1984.

Thacher, Amos: Turkoman Rugs ; London: 1940.

Wilfling, Hans: Teppiche-Motive der Turkvolker (Rugs and Patterns of Turkic People) ; Wien: 1985.

Persian Rugs

Turkish Rugs

Suzani

Oriental Rugs

Persian Carpets

Baluch Rugs,

The Qashqai and Qashqai Rugs

Veramin Rugs

Tribal Rugs

Khotan-Rugs

Khotan-Carpets

Kirman-Rugs

Kirman-Carpets

Antique-Rugs

Antique-Carpets

Shahsevan-Rugs

Oushak-Rugs

Index to my Rug Notes

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z