Turkotek Discussion Forums - View Single Post - An Ersari (?) Ensi with some interesting motifs

Martin Andersen · November 8th, 2017, 06:39 AM

Hi Chuck and Rich

I totally agree in seeing animals/birds in these beautiful Kush motifs.

But to be fair to Rageths argument it is the Salor Kush motif which is his offset. In the totality of his large scale “New perspective” argument he sees the Salor as the most important weaving group having an identity as the “Royal” tribe, an identity passed on directly from the Sogdians. I know, highly speculative but sustained also by some interesting linguistic points. And the representation of probably highly stylized human figures may easily have been transformed to birds perhaps under influence by Islam. Interpreting the Kush motif as birds I suppose solely hangs on their heads (and two of them - with no wings). And a few knots shifting place here and there in similar turkmen animal heads can make our different current interpretations shift from flowers to goats to dogs to birds and even to candelabras

Well, Raght's argument of course have the weakness of hanging on almost a millennium of lost rugs, but I still find it very interesting because it ambitiously aims towards a coherent and rational interpretation of historical context, rug, tent and representation instead of solely focusing on a isolated rug-motif. On the other hand of course our pleasure and appreciation of the rugs is based on all the minuscule variations in the details of both texture, patterns and motifs.

best Martin

November 8th, 2017, 06:39 AM	#18
Martin Andersen Members Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 121	Hi Chuck and Rich I totally agree in seeing animals/birds in these beautiful Kush motifs. But to be fair to Rageths argument it is the Salor Kush motif which is his offset. In the totality of his large scale “New perspective” argument he sees the Salor as the most important weaving group having an identity as the “Royal” tribe, an identity passed on directly from the Sogdians. I know, highly speculative but sustained also by some interesting linguistic points. And the representation of probably highly stylized human figures may easily have been transformed to birds perhaps under influence by Islam. Interpreting the Kush motif as birds I suppose solely hangs on their heads (and two of them - with no wings). And a few knots shifting place here and there in similar turkmen animal heads can make our different current interpretations shift from flowers to goats to dogs to birds and even to candelabras Well, Raght's argument of course have the weakness of hanging on almost a millennium of lost rugs, but I still find it very interesting because it ambitiously aims towards a coherent and rational interpretation of historical context, rug, tent and representation instead of solely focusing on a isolated rug-motif. On the other hand of course our pleasure and appreciation of the rugs is based on all the minuscule variations in the details of both texture, patterns and motifs. best Martin Last edited by Martin Andersen; November 8th, 2017 at 07:21 AM.