An Interesting Authentic Tekke Dowry Rug

[Krynauw Otto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Krynauw Otto]

Hi everyone!

Firstly I’d like to say that as a young collector I’m really glad to be part of this group, and hope to learn a lot from you all.

I recently found a dowry rug for sale online, and I was quite puzzled, yet entranced by the design. After speaking to a friend who most of you may know, he was able to spot the synthetic dyes (now slightly faded) in some of the areas. He confirmed that the drawing is an old one, the rug probably circa 1890, and that in this case the young lady who wove it most probably tried her best using whatever she could get her hands on in order to impress the groom’s family.

I’d love to show you all this interesting piece and looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Kind regards
Krynauw

[Lorenzo De Rosa Registered Find all posts View Profile Close Lorenzo De Rosa]

Hi Krynauw ,

Interesting and nice Piece! I would like to ask you which is the synthetic colour in the rug, maybe pink? I ask you this because I have an important Cloudband Kazak Rug, in which there is also the synthetic colour of pink, so called use of aniline. Otherwise I think your rug is a Turkmen of a certain quality and beauty. Where did you find it ,if could I know?

Lorenzo

[Joe Lawrence Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe Lawrence]

That is an unusual fading and you can tell in the field of the piece, they used different batches of yarn as you can see from the abrash near the middle. My guess is the piece was made with natural and synthetic dyes. The pink color could have been a red synthetic dye. The oddball orange looks like it may have come into contact with bleach. Hard to say. Whomever the weaver was, I think they did a fine job. There are a lot are high detail motifs.

I do have one myself that I believe is old and the backside feels crispy which some attribute to an older piece? Mine has been repaired at some point in its life and even has a patch seen in it. I’ve posted it before and from the repairs, I can hypothesize the piece was utilized for a long time and not repaired for the commercial market as the repair isn’t perfect or even close to it.

[Krynauw Otto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Krynauw Otto]

Hi Lorenzo! As a new collector, I cannot tell you too much about the synthetic and natural dyes, except that synthetic often shows signs of bleeding (but not always). I always check local online stores, and Facebook marketplace. I’m in South Africa, so our options are often limited, but I have found chuvals and an Ersari main carpet (that I missed out on), so one should always have a look what’s out there. Happy hunting!

Regards,
Krynauw.

[Krynauw Otto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Krynauw Otto]

Dear Joe,

Thank you for your response! Yes, my friend also mentioned the use of different yarn. I can’t help but thinking what the young lady must’ve done to try and get her hands on yarn that would impress the most.

Your piece is really beautiful and clearly of some age!

Kind regards,
Krynauw.