An Ersari chuval, South Turkestan,

The Persian Carpet Gallery (Jean Lefèvre), 29th November, 1974, lot 12

This chuval, the design of which is clearly derived from Ikat fabrics, forms part of a well documented group of weavings.  Related published examples include those illustrated in Between the Black Desert and the Red, Turkman Carpets from the Wiedersperg Collection, Pinner, R. and Eiland, M.L., San Francisco, 1999, pl.63, p.91; Oriental Rugs Volume 5 Turkoman, Jourdan, Uwe, Augsberg, 1989, pls.258 & 259, p.284; Central Asian Rugs, Schürmann, U., Frankfurt, 1969, pls.44 & 45 and Turkoman Rugs, Thacher, A.B., New York, 1940 pl.36.

Of these cited examples, the closest to the present lot is that illustrated in Thacher, op.cit., which shares the use of two different colours to form the diamond motifs; later examples tend to use the same colour for all four sides of the diamonds, resulting in a less dynamic design.  The plant elems and narrow chequered border are also similar.  The lot offered here is particularly noteworthy for the clarity of its colour including the clear rose red of the field; this latter is a feature which is usually associated with early Ersari weavings.