65 x 51 cm (2' 2" x 1' 8")
Turkmenistan, second half 19th century
Condition: very good, full pile, two small repairs at the lower end, slight signs of use
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool
Okbash are among the most characteristic and particularly appealing woven objects produced by the Turkmen nomads. These decorative, bag-like textiles were traditionally used to store and protect wooden tent poles or their ends during transportation and were often part of a brides textile dowry. Their distinctive shape, with a pointed upper end and long, multicoloured tassels, makes them instantly recognisable.
The present Yomud Okbash is distinguished by its fine knotting and unusually dense geometric ornamentation. The rectangular main field is entirely covered with small, diagonally arranged diamonds in red, dark blue, orange and ivory. Their regular repetition creates a lively, almost net-like pattern, framed by a narrow, light-ground border decorated with small geometric orna-ments.
Particularly attractive is the upper section, with its multiple serrated projections and numerous small diamond motifs. The long, multicoloured wool tassels attached to it, in shades of red, blue, brown and ivory, lend the piece its distinctive decorative character. The surviving lower fastening cords further emphasise its original function.
The meticulous craftsmanship, finely balanced ornamentation and remarkably good state of preservation, with full pile, make this Yomud Okbash a beautiful example of 19th-century Turkmen weaving.
Estimate: € 2000 - 3000