A Yomut 'C' Gul main carpet, Northwest Turkestan

Overall measurements: 148cm across the top, 147cm across the bottom, 280cm along left side, 273cm along right side Lustrous wool, clear colour, the pile generally evenly fair to low, with knotbars visible; 7 by 3.5cm and 6 by 3cm reweaves on top edge of upper elem, 5 by 4cm reweave in inner guard of top right hand quarter, 3 by 2cm small reweave in centre, old cobbled repairs in right hand border adjacent to second 'boat', some discolouration to ivory wool (smoke?); some scattered minute repairs; side cords re-overcast, elems stabilised with blanket stitch
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The so called 'C' Gul group of carpets have provoked animated discussion for both collectors and scholars alike. The name derives from the small 'C' shaped motifs found in the main guls situated in the field, also referred to as moon-guls. There is the possibility that these unusual motifs were inspired by the productions of the 17th century Safavid courts of Persia and are a rendition of the swirling polychrome leaves that surround many of the palmettes in these court carpets, see for example Lot 98, the Kelekian ‘Vase’ carpet fragment in the Sotheby’s New York sale, October 1^st, 2015 . For a discussion of the development of the  ‘boat’ border, see the previous lot in this sale. 

C gul carpets are symmetrically knotted and have been grouped into four different types, dependent on the use of guls and their layout. For comprehensive discussion see Hans Sienknecht's article, 'A Turkic Heritage', Hali, issue 47, October 1989, pp. 30-39. An example of Yomud main carpet with the C-gul design can be seen in the Wiedersperg Collection in the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, see Pinner, Robert and Murray L. Eiland, Between the Black Desert and the Red, San Francisco, 1999, pls. 31 and 32. The offered lot blends elements of Groups III and IV; but on balance is perhaps best allocated to group IV due to the 'C' guls being arranged in offset diagonal rows by way of colour change, an example of a group IV can be seen in Herrmann, E., Von Uschak Bis Yarkand, Seltene  Orienteppiche Aus Vier Jahrhunderten, Germany, p. 137, pl. 86, which shares similarities to the offered lot, such as the use of serrated stylised trees in the elem and the elongated main 'C' guls. However what is noticeably different is that the Herrmann Yomut follows the classic rule of main guls arranged in offset diagonal rows by colour; in the present lot, rows are instead divided by guls in a 'V' formation. The present example also has further scattered 'C' gul motifs within the field which is uncommon within the group. (The composition of the main guls, and use of minor 'C' guls in the field that the present lot are more characteristic of Group III); notwithstanding the above, it is a handsome and interesting example of a 'C' gul main carpet.