756. an immense old Ersari Afghan carpet

756. Provenance: Ersari tribe, Turkoman group of tribes, Northern Afghanistan

Size:  460 x 360 cm

Age: Circa 1940

Condition: Very good generally, but there is one patch of damage to one side, secured and patched underneath. 

Notes:  A vast classic Afghan Ersari fil pai or 'elephant foot', refering to the oversized Turkoman guls or medallions. These developed differently from their Turkomen brethren who remained to the west and north of them, under increasing Russian influence, and commercialization of their woven goods. As the demand for increasinly finely woven rugs grew, so the gul shapes tended to 'flatten', whereas in Afghanistan the more isolated Ersari displayed an oppopsite trend - a broadening and enlarging of the guls. Such pieces continue to be woven in Afghanistan, but they tend not to have the pleasing, subtle madder-rich dyes and soft oily wool. Some are as red as pillar boxes and just as stiff! This one is beautifully woven with glossy highland wool.