Turkmen carpets are instantly recognizable for their distinctive stamped elephant foot patterns, even more so the early pieces, well known for their bold, visually arresting drawings, and distinct ‘elephant’s foot’ pattern. Early pieces woven by the Yomut tribes in particular are among those most sought-after, for their high-quality wool and use of rich natural dyes, and are widely appreciated as among the finest weavings from the region. These pieces are truly timeless works of art, well suited to decorate a wide variety of spaces.

Being an early example, the piece boasts a remarkably tight weave, lending a crisp clarity to its drawing executed over a rare ivory ground, rather than the more conventional deep red. This forms the backdrop to the earth tones in its design, with accents of charcoal and ochre red, in an unusually open, balanced composition, with repeated medallions across the field. Weaving such as this one were often created as wedding gifts, as part of a bride’s dowry – though most often, these were woven in a small rug format, and not a funishing size, making this piece all the more unsuual.

This fine c. 1900s Yomut carpet is in very good condition for everyday use, retaining its outer borders on all sides – its vegetable dyed colours have developed a mellow patina with age.

A sophisticated and rare tribal piece, with a timeless design which would compliment either a contemporary or classic interior.