Kilims and flat-weaves are some of the most interesting tribal rugs. The women make such pieces for the floors of their tents. They need such covers for the floor of their tents that they erect in the pastoral camps.
Such items must be light and versatile. They use them as rugs, wall coverings, and even blankets. They are not as heavy and thick as pile rugs and are easier to transport.
When it comes to creating kilims, tribal women make their wild imaginations fly and do miracles. They depict motives that they have inherited from their ancestors and freely develop new ones. They create the most remarkable pieces in a technique that has thousands of years of history. Some of the kilims are astonishing art objects. The tribal women have woven them for and out of their hearts and not for the market. Thus are the often irregular shapes, designs, and colors.
We are proud to have a beautiful collection of such pieces in our gallery.
For two years, starting circa 104BC, the Chinese army of Emperor Wu (156 – 87 BC) of the Han dynasty fought a battle with the Saka-ruled Greco-Bactrian kingdom that is known in history as "The Battle of Heavenly Horses". The Hans attacked westward after a dispute that followed an expedition to acquire the legendary Akhal-Teke horses from Sakas. The creatures were celebrated and mythicized in China for their beauty, speed, and sweating blood (Han Xu Ma: Sweat blood).
The expedition and the war initiated the eastern leg of the Silk Road.
Akhal-Teke horses are of Turkoman breed and remain one of the most valued horses.
Horse riding and horses are part of the Turkoman culture and are always a historical source of pride. Therefore it is not a surprise that Torkuman girls have woven some of the finest and most beautiful horse coverings like the one in this post.
The weaver of this fabulous collectable piece, a Teke Torkuman horse cover, Circa 1880s, has used an extraordinary level of skill with impeccable attention to detail to create this majestic dress for one of the finest horses in the land.
59249 . A silk shahasavan sumak. 100x141cm
