Tent door cover (engsi), Yomut Turkmen
Object No. 2015/26/9
This fine engsi or tent door covering was woven by a woman of the Yomut Turkmen tribe in Turkmenistan or eastern Iran in the mid 1800s. Notable features of this example are the use of the bovrek motif, which is unique to the Yomut weavers, in the four main panels and the large and striking 'eagle' motif that tops the central column and is repeated three times in the end panel or elem. Additionally, small talismanic motifs are included on either side of the central column in the top half of the engsi; these are understood to be devices to ward off evil spirits. The Turkmen were mostly tent-dwelling pastoral nomads, whose ancestors are said to have moved westwards from Mongolia into Central Asia in around the 10th century. Relocating themselves and their animals with the changing seasons, the Turkmen were strongly independent and warlike. They kept mostly to their respective tribal lands which principally consisted of the present-day Central Asian state of Turkmenistan, and extended south along the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea into north-east Iran and northern Afghanistan. The engsi is part of a large and significant collection of mostly Yomut Turkmen rugs and trappings that collectively presents a comprehensive picture of the highly-skilled Yomut women's output, featuring fine examples from their repertoire. These weavings capture the essence of this independent people and their virtually extinguished nomadic existence. The mobile circumstances of Yomut daily life, and that of other nomadic Turkmen groups, necessitated the kind of housing adapted to nomadism, and the round timber-lattice oy or yurt suited them well. Turkmen women furnished their mobile homes with the kind of admirably functional and transportable carpets, rugs, cushions and trappings represented in this collection. From a design pespective, the principal motif on Yomut, and most Turkmen weavings is the gul, an octagonal geometric motif that is thought to be a tribal emblem and so representative of a particular tribe. These major guls are usually arranged diagonally, and decorate the fields of both carpets and smaller items, with minor guls filling the spaces between. A great deal has been written about guls and their variety and many different forms have been identified and named; some guls are unique to particular forms of weaving, such as the juval (large storage bag) gul. As with most Turkmen rugs, Yomut designs are largely symmetrical around both the vertical and horizontal axis. Turkmen women used wool from their own flocks of sheep and goats for weaving carpets, bags and bands to furnish and decorate their tents as well as colourful trappings for their prized horses and camels. Most Yomut Turkmen weavings are a lush pile weave, most commonly with symmetrical knots although asymmetrical knots are also sometimes used. The rich and varied reds that characterise Turkmen rugs and trappings generally were easily obtainable from local madder plants. Christina Sumner Formerly Principal Curator Design & Society May 2013
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Summary
Object Statement
Tent door cover (engsi), eagle motif, symmetrically knotted, wool, made by Yomut Turkmen woman, Turkmenistan or north eastern Iran, mid 1800s
Physical Description
The design of the symmetrically-knotted pile weave rug is classical engsi form, ie the main field is divided into four quadrants or panels by vertical and horizontal bars; the upper two panels in this engsi are smaller than the lower two. All four are filled with diagonally set bovrek motifs. The central column is topped with a large eagle motif which is repeated three times in the upper panel of the elem; the lower one has gapyrga (pine tree) motifs on a darker field. There are some minor faded repairs. This engsi is Number 48 in the Upfold collection list; as such it represents the 48th Turkmen piece acquired by the donor.
DIMENSIONS
Height
1640 mm
Width
1500 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The design of the symmetrically-knotted pile weave rug is classical engsi form, ie the main field is divided into four panels or quadrants by vertical and horizontal bars. The takbent motif appears in these bars and in the main border, all on a red ground. White ground side borders feature the syrga pattern with small ashyks in the top and bottom borders and gyra, ok gosi and giyak guard stripes. In the four main panels, bovrek motifs are closely set diagonally with unusual talismanic motifs on either side of the central vertical bar in the top half. Atop the central column is the striking 'eagle' motif, which is repeated three times in the larger top panel of the elem. The lower panel has the gapyrga (pine tree) pattern with giyak tree trunks; the trees are separated by ok gosi strips. Seven colours have been used: aubergine, dark blue, green blue, red, brown, yellow and ivory. Dennis Dodds, from whom the donor purchased this engsi, recounted that Russian scholar Elena Tsareva thought it might be identified as Ogurjali, a Turkmen tribe within the Yomut 'confederacy'. Fine wool from their flocks was always available to the Turkmen women for weaving their extensive repertoire of domestic and personal items. These included carpets, bands and bags to comfortably furnish the nomadic tent or oy and a collection of colourful trappings for their prized horses and camels. Most Yomut Turkmen weavings are of cut pile construction, with a foundation of undyed goat hair or wool warps and two shots of coloured wool wefts (usually grey, brown or pink) or light brown camel hair between each row of knots. While symmetrical knots are more commonly found in Yomut weavings, asymmetrical knots are also sometimes used. To these structural characteristics, which help to distinguish Yomut weaving from other Turkmen weavings, may be added colour and design. The rich and varied reds that characterise Turkmen rugs and trappings generally were easily obtainable from local madder plants.
HISTORY
Notes
This tent door covering or engsi is one of a large collection of 127 mainly Yomut Turkmen rugs and trappings assembled with a discerning eye over a 30 year period by the Sydney collector and donor Robert Upfold. The engsi was purchased by the donor from Dennis Dodds in the USA in March 2004. Upfold's stated and generous intention was always to donate this collection eventually to the Powerhouse Museum. Highly skilled in their execution, these rugs and trappings span the traditional range of production of the Yomut Turkmen. The engsi, with its one-way design, is thought to have been used as a tent door covering; this example which features a large eagle motif at the top of the central column may also have been used as a prayer rug. The Yomut are the second largest Turkmen group after the Ersari and were divided into two main subgroups, one of which inhabited the area around the Balkan Mountains to the south-east of the Caspian Sea and northern Iran. The other group lived further to the north, east of the Aral Sea near the khanate of Khiva. Little is known of Yomut history, largely due to their warlike character and nomadic lifestyle, which ensured that they carried only essentials with them. While focusing almost exclusively on Yomut Turkmen weaving from the late 18th to early 20th centuries, the collection also includes six pieces from Igdyr, Saryk, Tekke and Chodor Turkmen groups.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Robert Upfold, 2013
Acquisition Date
22 April 2015
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