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A Kirghiz reed screen, North
Turkestan,
first quarter 20th century, minor losses to
wrapping, approximately 10ft. 4in. by 5ft. 8in. (3.15 by 1.73m.)
New York 3,000—5,000 USD Session 1, 27 Apr 00
10:15 AM
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 3,000
USD
DESCRIPTION
Reed screens such as this one are known as Chirmagan ashkana chiy (
kitchen screens) and are traditionally used in the yurt as
free-standing space dividers. Although essentially functional such
screens are elaborately decorated with designs that are closely related
to the motifs and format of Turkman knotted pile and felt weavings.
Trimmed reeds are individually wrapped in dyed wool and bound together
at a loom. As such screens are made of perishable materials and were
routinely discarded and replaced, very few examples of any age have
been preserved. Perhaps the oldest known examples, collected by S. M.
Dudin in 1901, are now in the Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg.
A similar reed screen is illustrated in Hali,
Issue 75, p.115. For a full discussion of the construction, usage and
history of such weavings see: Oriental Rug Review, Vol.11/6 and
Vol.12/1, Mateeva, Stella & Dr.
Jon Thompson, Patterned Reed Screens of the Kirghiz.
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