Antique Turkmen Chuval, Sariq Tribe, Yolatan Oasis, ...

Item Ref
BM1933

Absolutely stunning and one of the finest knotted chuvals of the Sariq Turkmen who inhabited the Yolatan Oasis during and prior to the nineteenth century. This beautiful 'chuval' (storage-bag), contains nine Sariq 'guls' or tribal crests on a glowing madder-red ground and with the extra panels, top and bottom, of dancing ladies! The last photo shows just how amazingly fine the knots are and this is certainly one of the very best Sariq chuvals I have had the great pleasure to own for many years and now time to be passed on to an equally deserving collector or lover of great Turkmen pieces! Like all nineteenth century and earlier rugs and weavings, photos can never give them full justice. When they are handled and caressed, these weavings show 'their true colours'! Made circa 1870-1880 and in great complete condition, this chuval is beautiful and very collectible.
Size: 1.40m x 0.95m (4' 7" x 3' 1").
£2,750

Antique Turkmen Mafrash Fragment, Teke Tribes, Merv ...

Item Ref
BM2078

A very rare and late 18th century Turkmen Mafrash fragment, made by Teke tribes in the Merv Oasis, Turkmenistan.
Although fragmented, this beautiful early example of Teke work, shows the amazing fineness of weave and quality of the madder dye, prior to the tribe becoming the most powerful Turkmen tribe after the defeat of the Salor to the Persian Qajars in 1834.
Note the six Teke guls dominating the field and surrounded on three sides by stylised deer, more or less intact, and rare to find on these early pieces. The remains of the stunning 'tree' elem can still be seen.
This mafrash has been mounted on a wooden frame covered with hessian to preserve it and ready for wall mounting.
Fragment size: 73 cm x 24cm (2' 5" x 9"). Frame size: 84cm x 36cm (2' 9" x 1' 2").
£2,750

Antique Turkmen Mafrash Fragment, Teke Tribe, Akhal ...

Item Ref
BM2036

This very rare fragment of what was once a complete Teke Turkmen mafrash (small personal belongings bag) dates to the late 18th century.
Mounted on a wood frame and covered in hessian, a small square has been cut-out in the back of the hessian to show the incredible fineness of weave in this mafrash (see photo attached).
The remains of one of possibly two or three ivory panels, shows the depiction of a vertical 'tree' with an 'ashik' symbol in the centre and highlighted in cochineal-dye silk. The beautiful range of natural-dye colours is simply stunning and not forgetting the 'elem' or lower skirt with its depiction of stylised deer or even camels? Charming!
Fragment size: 35cm x 31cm (14" x 12"). Frame size: 43cm x 39cm (17" x 15").
£2,750

Antique Turkmen Chuval, Possibly Kizyl Ayak Tribe, ...

Item Ref
BM2069

Recently acquired from the private collection of a deceased client, this rare and powerful Turkmen 'chuval' - storage bag-face - was most likely made by the Kizyl Ayak tribe during the early to mid 19th century.
What is particularly rare is the use of the 'dyrnak' gul, used as a minor gul here whereas amongst the Yomut Turkmen, it would have been used as a main gul or crest. At a guess, I'd say with this piece, we have a Yomut woman married into the dominant Kizyl Ayak tribe and able to use her gul as a minor ornament!
The magnificent madder-red field is stunning and the chuval is complete and in excellent condition.
Size: 1.37m x 0.92m (4' 6" x 3' 0").
£2,750

Antique Turkmen Torba, Chowdur Tribe, Mangyshlak & ...

Item Ref
BM2072

A rare and beautiful torba (small storage bag) made by Chowdur tribes in the Mangyshlak, Buzachi and Volga regions of Turkmenistan circa 1870-1880. The Chowdur are a very old tribe and few of their antique weavings are found these days. The most conspicuous feature is the purple-brown ground colour and the use of the asymmetrical knot.
This torba has a rare field design and is in excellent condition, complete with plain-weave back and tassels.
Torbas were made for carrying small personal items and were tied to the flanks of the camels during migrations.
Size: 71cm x 36cm (2' 4" x 1' 2") excluding tassels.
£2,500

Antique Turkmen Asmalyk, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...

Item Ref
BM2086

This magnificent Turkmen Asmalyk was made by the Yomut tribes in the Middle Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan during the mid 19th century. To see the wonderful mix of colours, particularly the glowing mid-blue, then please look at the close-up images.
Asmalyks were made in pairs and were part of the bride's dowry. They were hung from the flanks of the wedding camel while the bride rode to her wedding and would afterwards, be presented to her future husband along with the rest of her dowry weavings. The asmalyks would then be hung up in the wedding yurt for the rest of their married lives together and would symbolise power and fertility.
This is a very collectable weaving from an ancient tradition that sadly, is now gone.
Size: 1.22m x 0.71m (4' 0" x 2' 4")
£2,500

Antique Turkmen Asmalyk, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...

Item Ref
BM2037

Asmalyks were made in pairs as part of the bride's dowry and hung on the flanks of the wedding camel during the wedding procession. Once presented to the bridegroom as part of her dowry, he would hang them up in their wedding yurt for the rest of their married lives. Symbolically, they represented power and fertility.
This beautiful Asmalyk was made during the mid 19th century with a field design of 'ashiks' not seen after 1880. The natural colours are superb and incorporate a magnificent early turquoise colour. It is complete with hanging cords and bar one tiny repair in the upper right cord, it is in excellent condition.
Size: 69cm wide x 47cm high (2' 3" wide x 1' 6" high).
£1,850

Antique Turkmen Wedding-Camel Trapping, Ersary Tribes, Middle ...

Item Ref
BM/JS2

This magnificent wedding trapping has the most luxurious wool - soft and silky - the very best Turkmen quality. Made as a wedding-camel decoration and not as a storage bag, this trapping would have been part of the bride's dowry and never intended for sale. In excellent pile all over, the trapping did have a small area of damage which has been well restored. The overall design is ikat-inspired - typical of the work of the Ersary nomads in the Beshir region.
Size: 1.50m x 0.31m (4' 11" x 1' 0").
£1,850

Antique Turkmen Chuval (storage-bag), Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian ...

Item Ref
BM2097

This magnificent 19th century Turkmen storage-bag or 'chuval', was made by Yomut tribes in the trans-Caspian steppes. It is in complete, near-perfect condition with its original plain-weave back and tie-cords.
The deeply saturated aubergine-colour field contains 16 Yomut 'guls' or tribal crests with the minor guls highlighted in a beautiful sky-blue. Also, particularly attractive, is the 'elem' or bottom panel, finely decorated in an interlocking diamond design.
Chuvals were originally made in pairs and were utilitarian bags for carrying clothes, pots and pans etc. They were tied to the flanks of the camels during long migrations and when not in use, were stored flat on top of each other in the yurts.
Size: 1.22m x 0.69m (4' 0" x 2' 3")
£1,750

Antique Turkmen Chuval, Ersary Tribes, Middle Amu ...

Item Ref
BM2071

This large chuval - storage bag - was made by Ersary Turkmen tribes in the middle Amu Darya region of Turkmenistan during the third quarter of the nineteenth century.
Although its flat-woven back was removed at some point in the past, the face of this chuval is in very good complete condition. Originally made in pairs for transporting clothing and other personal belongings, this sadly, is the only one remaining, with no doubt, the other pair to this somewhere out there in the wide world!
The beautiful madder-red ground contains three vertical rows of five Ersary 'guls' (tribal crests) and particularly attractive is the main border with its compartmentalised pattern containing '8-pointed stars' - protective symbols. Note also the interesting change of colour in the 'elem' or skirt, undoubtedly done on purpose by the weaver to highlight the symbolic earthly world.
Size: 0.95m x 1.45m (3' 1" x 4' 9").
£1,450

Antique Chuval, Yomut Turkmen Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...

Item Ref
BM2024

Magnificent! Fabulous rich madder-red with four vertical rows of four 'kilim guls' - more often found on the flatweave chuvals. This is therefore a rarer type than the flatweave chuvals and made by Yomut Turkmen around 1870-1880.
Chuvals or storage-bags were usually made in pairs and carried clothing and other personal belongings on the flanks of the camels during migrations. This chuval lost its flatwoven back a long time ago as well as the outer 'birds-heads' border on the sides only, where new selvedges have been added. Otherwise it is in excellent pile throughout.
This beautiful piece needs to be seen to appreciate the wonderful colour of madder-red which photos often don't do any justice to!
Size: 1.07m x 0.79m (3' 6" x 2' 7").
£1,450

Antique Turkmen Torba, Yomut Tribes, Trans-Caspian Steppes, ...

Item Ref
BM2013

This beautiful torba (small storage bag) was made by Yomut Turkmen in the Trans-Caspian Steppes circa 1900. It has a rare field design of small symbolic guls (tribal crests) with superb shades of madder-red, natural ivory and indigo sky-blue. The torba is in immaculate condition with plain-weave back, the remains of the hanging cords and tassels at the base.
Size: 76cm x 41cm (2' 6" x 1' 4").
£1,350