A Very Odd Kizil Ajak Turkmen Rug

Unusual Afghan Turkmen Type Rug

The person I got this rug from asked me what I wanted to call it since he didn't know what it was. It is Northern Afghan. As far as just what weaving group or city I am unsure but as a guess I would say Kunduz.

As far as the design I am at a loss to explain this one. It appears to have a fence and gate but that is just a guess. This piece could even be a Russian Turkmen and the red thing the monument to the W.W.II war dead in Tashkent, who knows. It also looks like the Sheraton up the road from Langley Va. So really all I can say for sure is that it is a nice little rug that I like.

How We Select Our Rugs

Structure: Asymmetrical knot open right. 7.5 knots per horizontal inch and 16 knots per vertical inch. 120 per square inch (1860 per square decimeter). Flat back.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply wool .

Weft: 2 ply Cotton 1 shot.

Pile: 2 Wool singles.

Ends: 1 1/2 inch plain weave with band of twinning, warp fringe.

Selvages: Overcast with brown wool.

Further Notes: Reduced on one end and some tip fading. This rug is older than it looks at first glance.

Kizil Ajak Attribution.

Now that I look at this odd little rug after several years I think it is most likely Kizil Ajak . It appears Turkmen, the knot is asymmetric open right and border seems related to older Kizil Ajak rugs. It has 7.5 knots per horizontal inch and 16 knots per vertical inch for 120 per square inch. The Kizil Ajak are the most adventurous weavers of all the Turkmen.