Fine and early Tekke Torba

Fine and early Tekke Torba
107 x 42 cm (3' 6" x 1' 5")
Turkmenistan, ca. 1800
Condition: good, mostly good pile, left side incomplete, right side slightly incomplete, minor small repairs
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool

Very early Tekke Torba with an almost clothlike delicate texture. The much too pale color photo in Rageth No.55 does not do justice to the unquestionable quality of this weaving chosen by Rageth as high-class representative among the countless existing Tekke Torba. Slightly better color photo in Hodenhagen catalog, November 1997, no.93. Remarkably saturated deep cherry red ground color.
Clearly drawn details of main and secondary ornaments point to an early age, as suggested by Rageth before 1800.
A further indication for high age is the flower-box border, while later Tekke Torba show various types of the much more common Kotchanak border. Interesting detail is the occasional but obviously deliberate use of some rows of white cotton in contrast with neighboring dark blue. The high quality of this textile is only revealed by seeing and touching it in the flesh.

Estimate: € 8000 - 12000