West Turkestan, c. 226 x 200 cm, 17th century, this early central carpet with brownish red ground and five horizontal rows of ten Tekke guls each, delicate “kurbaghe” secondary guls and starred octagons, is one of the best examples of this group in terms of design and colour technique. Whilst Tekke guls remained virtually unchanged over the course of the centuries, this piece displays an unusual border with octagonal “shelpe” guls and their intermediate ornaments. Unlike the traditional small four stars, the shelpe motifs are in this case decorated with one large eight-rayed star. Only two other carpets with similar borders are known to us. One fragment was sold at Sotheby’s on the occasion of the Thompson Collection sale. Another carpet with an almost identical border has been published in “Wie Blumen in der Wüste”, where this shelpe gul with one star was subsequently chosen as the logo of the 7th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC). Despite its old age, this khali is in good condition with slight traces of usae, especially in the upper section, and newly overcast side edges. No significant repairs can be discerned. Both ends have been slightly reduced, with small kilim remains at the lower left end.

Further reading:
Auction catalogue Sotheby's 1993, Rugs and Carpets, Turkmen and Antique Carpets from the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Jon Thompson, lot 12; Catalogue of the exhibition “Wie Blumen in der Wüste”, on the occasion of the 7th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC), Museum für Völkerkunde, Hamburg, no. 20.