A Tekke rug, west Turkestan, first half 19th century

This attractive and well-spaced Tekke rug displays a rare variant of the kurbaghe gul. A closely comparable example with the same drawing is published in HALI, no.145, p.75, no.9, and HALI, no.30, pp.8-9, formerly in the Robert and Lesley Pinner collection. Both examples share a border of octagonal medallions enclosing star motifs that are divided by geometric bands which display a relative stylistic freedom when compared to the symmetry of the field. For a further discussion on Tekke carpets and their various ornaments, see David M. Reuben, ‘Tekke Main Carpets’, in HALI, no.145, pp.68-79.