Provenance and Design Heritage

The Turkmen are a Turkic people whose ancestral lands span present-day Turkmenistan, northern Iran and northern Afghanistan. Their rug-knotting tradition is long-established in Central Asia and defined by its design vocabulary: the gul — a small octagonal or diamond medallion repeated in rows across the field. Different Turkmen tribes use different gul forms, which can indicate a piece's tribal lineage. Bokhara (Bukhara) is historically the market city through which Turkmen rugs reached the wider world; in the international rug trade the name has come to denote the broader Turkmen design family.

This piece was hand-knotted in the Bokhara tradition from 100 % wool on a cotton foundation, in the 1970s–80s. The composition follows the classical Bokhara vocabulary: rows of stepped guls down the field, framed by symmetrical multi-band borders. It is in good vintage condition, professionally inspected and washed.

Colour and Composition

The composition is built on a clear ivory ground carrying a column of stepped diamond guls drawn in red, navy-black and bright sky-blue with orange and ivory detail. A soft old-rose main border carries floral rosette guls in orange, ivory and black, flanked by several narrow guard borders of orange, black and ivory zigzag vine. The colours are clear rather than faded — the bright sky-blue highlights give the Turkmen drawing liveliness. Beige wool fringes finish the ends.

Presence in the Room

At 95 × 156 cm (1.5 m²) this is a small format. Three contexts in which the vintage Bokhara comes into its own:

• Bedside or beneath an armchair: the small format and the rhythmic gul pattern suit a personal space.
• Hallway or entrance: the repeating pattern reads well in a corridor or small entry.
• Office or study: beneath a single chair or desk, the structured pattern is a calm anchor.

Specifications

Djoharian — Since 1967

With roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade, Djoharian has specialised in antique and designer rugs since 1967. Djoharian is also a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs (new production).

Service and Delivery

Every piece is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main before dispatch. For expert washing and repair we offer our own professional rug cleaning service. Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, and personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.