West Turkestan, c. 201 x 115 cm, 17th/18th century; As2, V 35, H 65 = c. 2,275 kts/sqm; the present fragment of a former central carpet, with its original 4 x 10 Tekke guls and chemche secondary motifs, has suffered considerably and is one of the oldest pieces in the collection. A special characteristic of this carpet is its white-ground main border, which is probably unique among Tekke khalis. The short sides are decorated with heavily stylised tendrils of lotus flowers and lancet-shaped leaves, which also occur in a number of variants in the carpets of the “eagle” groups - compared to the famous “Pfadschbacher” carpet the present item displays an even more archaic form. For the representation of a wedding caravan with camels and their calves in the longitudinal border no comparable pieces are known to us. The carpet has been cut vertically in the middle (hence one row of guls is missing) and pieced back together in keeping with the pattern. With bare pile areas and a few losses backed with linen fabric, the present item has also been reduced all around. Nevertheless, this is a very rare fragment and research object, which should still provide much discussion material.

Further reading:
Rautenstengel/Azadi, Studien zur Teppichkultur der Turkmenen, ill. 60.