Early Ersari Trapping

Early Ersari Trapping
154 x 54 cm (5' 1" x 1' 9")
Turkmenistan, ca. 1800 or earlier
Condition: good according to age, scattered low pile, some old repairs, signs of use
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool

Very early and exceptionally large Ersari trapping used for not specifically known decoration in connection with the marriage ceremonies, probably within the yurt and not for the bridal procession. Weavings showing a central medallion were produced by Ersari tribal groups in great numbers and varying sizes over a long period of at least 3 centuries, later also as storage bags known as torba. First published with a color photo in Jean Lefevre, London, auction catalogue 14.03.1978, lot 3.
Later on, also in Hodenhagen catalog November 1997 no. 38. Apart from the size indication for early origin of this trapping can be derived from the intense and very special colors.
The light brick brown ground color combined with lively complimentary hues are typical for the early Ersari production in the western area of Mangishlak peninsular before the several migrations of this tribe into new quarters along the Amu Darya valley. The early production in the 18th century and earlier is evidenced by main carpets like for example Mackie/Thompson, Turkmen No.85 and others in various exhibition catalogues of Eberhart Herrmann, Munich Volume I to X.
In the later Amu Darya production strong red coloration became dominant. For this development reference is made to the still quite early Ersari trapping in Herrmann, Volume V, no. 84 b, clearly already belonging to Amu Darya production.

Estimate: € 8000 - 12000