Yomut ensi

An ensi is a rug woven as a door flap for the inside of a Turkmen yurt. This Yomut group ensi draws a cruciform pattern mimicking the design of Central Asian wooden doors. The bottom panel, or ‘elem’ depicts two colorful rows of abstract stylized trees. The borders are decorated with a stepped geometric element known as an ‘ashik’. For a 19th century example, this ensi has survived remarkably well, with the majority of its tassels ends intact.