A Tekke torba, West Turkestan,

The design of this torba where three complete guls are flanked by half guls appears to be unusual in Tekke weavings, with two published examples being Sotheby's New York, April 12, 1996 lot 29 and Butterweck, G. et al, Antique Oriental Carpets from Austrian Collections, Vienna, 1986, pl. 109. This full and half gul pattern is found more often in torbas of the Yomud and Arabatchi tribal groups, for examples see "The Lesley and Robert Pinner Collection of Turkmen Rugs," Rippon Boswell, May 15, 2004, lot 61; Dodds, D., et al, Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections, Philadelphia, 1996,  pls. 204 and 247; Turkmen and Antique Carpets from the Collection of Dr and Mrs Jon Thompson, Sotheby's New York, December 16, 1993, lot 49; Andrews, P. A. et al, Wie Blumen in der Wüste, Hamburg, 1993, pl. 41; Loges, W., Turkoman Tribal Rugs, London, 1980, pl. 110; Mackie, L. and Thompson, J., Turkmen Tribal Carpets and Traditions, Washington, D.C., 1980, pl. 61.  The stepped-S border of the torba offered here also appears to be unusual, with both Tekkes cited here having a kochanak border design.