A Beshir prayer rug, South Turkestan

Exhibited Eberhart Herrmann, Munich, 1983

Eberhart Herrmann, Seltene Orientteppiche, Vol. V, Munich, 1983, no.85, pp.176-177 and cover.

Measurements 96cm wide across the top, 102cm. across the bottom, 189cm long left side, 183cm long right side. Pile generally evenly fair overall, knotbars generally visible. End guards rewoven at both ends and extending up the side guard, approximately 8cm at lower end and 25cm at the upper end. Reweave in left hand side border (24cm. up from the end, 'v'-shaped, 4.5cm. high, 11cm. wide) and another in the right hand side of central red panel (of irregular shape, approx. 3cm wide and 12cm high). Rug lies slightly 'waisted', and might benefit from re-blocking. Some small scattered repairs, repiled fold line in upper section of central red panel (approx. 11cm. wide, 2cm. high). Side cords with some restoration. Would benefit from a clean. Specialist Comment: This is a particularly good example of this type of rug, with striking design.
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The design of the Beshir prayer rug is dominated by an ivory mihrab which typically frames an inner mihrab, often decorated with geometric shrubs and plants. The lot offered here is, Ralph Kaffel suggests in his article in Hali, one of the best examples of a particular sub type of Beshir rugs. The sub type is referred to by Kaffel as type 3-A and is recognised by a 'double-hook' design, characterised by a large white-ground plant or shrub-filled outer mihrab, which at the top splits into an oversized double hook (kochak) or ram’s horn motif, in which the floral pattern of the ivory prayer arch is continued […] borders of this sub-type are narrow and simple, with either meandering vines or geometric flowerheads.’ Kaffel, ‘Beshir Prayer Rugs’, Hali, No.151, pp.79 & 81

While they are known for their striking design, Beshir prayer rugs are also esteemed for their colour and thought to possess a richer palette than any other group of Turkoman rugs. Werner Loges makes specific reference to the distinctive yellow, labelling it ‘Beshir yellow’. The colour, he goes on to say, is ‘made from a mixture of saffron, safflower (dyer’s weld), isparak and occasionally pomegranate peel’. Loges, Werner, Turkoman Tribal Rugs, Humanities Press, Atlantic Highlands, N.J., 1980, pg. 91. In this Beshir prayer rug the wine red field, combined with the bright ivory outer mihrab and dashes of bold Beshir yellow accenting the border, creates a striking silhouette. Few of these important rugs have survived and this Beshir prayer rug, with its striking colour and strong design, is a superb example.

For comparables see Peter Hoffmeister, Turkoman Carpets in Franconia, Edinburgh, 1980, nr. 21