Bashir long rug

The term Bashir refers to a group of rugs woven mainly by settled Turkmen weavers in the territory of what is now Uzbekistan. These pieces are known for their blending of traditional Turkmen weaving traditions, particularly those of eastern Turkmen tribes like the Ersari, with the more urban tastes of the oasis and caravan towns of Central Asia. This piece uses several colorful border types that can easily be attributed to eastern Turkmen tradition. Of particular interest is the inner most border which suddenly and drastically changes about a third of the way up from the bottom of the field. Just as idiosyncratic is the design of the field. The repertoire of ornament here is small, delciate, and wild. Individual motifs are varied and difficult to identify and seems to integrate geometric with more almost ‘persianate’ floral design relying on fantastic color and pure energy rather than a discernible iconography.