Bashir Kapunuk

The ‘mina khani’ design, a pattern of alternating rows of stylized blossoms punctuated by rows of smaller white flowers, was popularized in Central Asia during the nineteenth century by Turkmen weavers of the Middle Amu Darya, or Oxus River, region of what is now Uzbekistan. Such Turkmen weavings using persianate ornament are often referred to in the literature as “Beshir”, named after an oasis town in the region, and are thought to have been the products of settled Turkmen weavers. Indeed, the many larger format Turkmen carpets of this diverse group give credence to this theory. This piece, then, is doubly special. A kapunuk is a particular type of trapping made for the doorway of a yurt. Whether this piece was made by nomads or as a luxury item by their sedentary kin to be traded to them is not known. Both theories may be seen as plausible. However, such pieces with the mina khani pattern are extremely rare and speak to the continuity of Turkmen weaving traditions. This piece has the added benefit of being quite beautiful with fully articulated floral and grid systems composed with soft lush wool and fabulous color including a range of blues and green. The knot is asymmetric open right perhaps suggesting an Ersari Turkmen weaver.