Turkotek Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Jurg Rageth's "Turkmen Carpets, A New Perspective"

January 22nd, 2018, 10:01 PM

I borrowed a copy and read about a quarter of it. I am really into this kind of stuff but doubt I will ever be able to get through the whole thing. Probably just skim the and say I did!

My main interest was to see his take on design history. I found most of his arguments on design sources for Turkmen rugs both tedious and unconvincing. The popular idea that Sogdian textiles were the inspiration for Salor Turkmen main carpets is, IMO, rather facile. Of course, if you believe, as Rageth appears to, that the Salor were themselves the direct descendents of the Sogdians then I guess it makes more sense.

He seemed more interested in the cultures around the Turkmen than the people themselves. Seemed a lot more interested in rugs than the people who made them. I may be wrong but I got impression that he didn't spend much or any time doing research in Central Asia.

Well, if you believe that Turkmen textile art is no more than an artistic "Cargo Cult" of designs taken from older/higher cultures recycled mindlessly for centuries there is really not much point in going too deeply into its essence!

I do admire his passion though! Huge investment of time and money. I think in the end, his dye analysis will be the most rewarding for future researchers.

January 22nd, 2018, 10:01 PM	#8
Andy Hale Guest Posts: n/a	Tough Going! I borrowed a copy and read about a quarter of it. I am really into this kind of stuff but doubt I will ever be able to get through the whole thing. Probably just skim the and say I did! My main interest was to see his take on design history. I found most of his arguments on design sources for Turkmen rugs both tedious and unconvincing. The popular idea that Sogdian textiles were the inspiration for Salor Turkmen main carpets is, IMO, rather facile. Of course, if you believe, as Rageth appears to, that the Salor were themselves the direct descendents of the Sogdians then I guess it makes more sense. He seemed more interested in the cultures around the Turkmen than the people themselves. Seemed a lot more interested in rugs than the people who made them. I may be wrong but I got impression that he didn't spend much or any time doing research in Central Asia. Well, if you believe that Turkmen textile art is no more than an artistic "Cargo Cult" of designs taken from older/higher cultures recycled mindlessly for centuries there is really not much point in going too deeply into its essence! I do admire his passion though! Huge investment of time and money. I think in the end, his dye analysis will be the most rewarding for future researchers.