A Karakalpak Long Rug

A Karakalpak Long Rug, Uzbekistan, late 19th C. A very rare long rug woven by the Karakalpak tribe of Central Asia within the present day region of Uzbekistan. Though rugs by other Turmken groups are more common and have been widely collected, the Karakalpaks were not prolific weavers, nor were their rugs widely known outside their indigenous region. This example is laid out on a highly abrashed deep wine burgundy field. Neatly arranged squares have been laid out in secondary diagonal strips through the clever use of colour symmetry and interchange. Each square contains an eigh-petalled flower and its circumference is decorated with the so-called ram horn icons. A minimal tripe border arrangement surrounds the field, and each end is secured with narrow supplemental kilim endings. 13 ft 1 in by 5 ft 1 in