Antique Ersari Turkoman 49 Gul Chuval Face. Circa 1900.

Ersari Turkoman "temirchin" 49 Gul Chuval Face. Circa 1900.

Design & Motifs: Famous for their guls (flower-like geometric medallions). Common formats include 9 or 12 large guls arranged in rows. This piece with 49 guls, almost miniature in size for the numbers present.

Many Ersari moved south into Afghanistan in the first quarter of the 20th century, so this most likely have been woven there, or earlier in their homeland in the Middle Amu Darya valley.

Predominantly featuring a madder red or "ruby red" ground with highlights of indigo blue and cream. Old label affixed.

Condition: Good condition. Strong colour with deep red, indigo blues and white/cream. Good pile.

Dimensions:

Height = 75 cm

Width = 121 cm

*An Ersari Chuval is a large, hand-knotted storage bag traditionally woven by the Ersari tribe, one of the major Turkmen ethnic groups found primarily in Turkmenistan, Northern Afghanistan, and parts of Uzbekistan. Historically, these bags were used in pairs by nomadic families to store household items inside their yurts or to transport goods on the backs of camels.

Ersari Rugs: Typically refer to tribal, nomadic weavings from the middle Amu Darya valley. They are known for large-scale "elephant's foot" (gul) motifs and a rich palette of dark red, blue, and beige.