CHOICE ANTIQUE YOMUD TURKOMAN CHILD'S RUG (Salatchak)

RARE & UNUSUAL ANTIQUE YOMUD-GROUP TURKOMAN SALATCHAK (Child's cot rug), south Caspian Sea area, either southwest Turkmenistan, or northeast Persia  (possibly Goklan tribe), early 20th century, and in pristine original condition for the collector. The exact size is: 3'-3' x 3'-3" (99 x 99 cm). This unusual Turkmen textile artifact comes in absolutely full pile condition and seems to have had a backing sewn to it at one point in time. The use of an allover "boteh" pattern on an ivory field may be a unique feature as most other known specimens display the more common geometric motifs associated with Turkmen weavings. The red color seems a bit strong to me and may be a non-natural dye lot, although I witness no color run or bleeding. Strong wool and firm knotting create a heavy handle to it. Weavings like the present specimen, with its heptagonal shape, are suggested by Turkomenophiles to be either prayer rugs, children's rugs, or cradle rugs. Uwe Jourdan has published two similar-shaped weavings, albeit with different designs, as plates 130 and 131, page 176-177, in his "Oriental Rugs Volume 5 Turkoman", 1989, and labels them as "Salatchak" which, in the Turkic languages, means "cradle". Siawosh Azadi has published another specimen as plate 42 in "Turkmen Carpets", 1975, also calling his specimen a "Salatchak", and identifying them as ""cot or children's rugs" and says they are not to be considered prayer rugs inasmuch as they were created to have religious significance protecting the child in the cot. This is a splendidly visual textile artifact that makes a stunning display as a wall hanging. If you have any questions at all about this rare antique Yomud-group child's cot rug, email Michael Phillips at phillipsrugs@comcast.net or feel free to call my studio phone number at (303) 885-7599. Please do take a little extra time to view all of the other fine antique weavings of merit I have posted exclusively with eBay auction this week and be sure to bookmark my eBay seller ID (imokub2) to your "favorite sellers" list if you would like to see my weekly future offerings having this age, beauty, quality, condition, rarity, and collectible investment quality nature. NOTICE: ALL of the weavings I list on the eBay auction venue come with an unconditional 100% money back refund guarantee (including ALL s/h/ins. fees) if for ANY reason at all the winning bidder is not absolutely thrilled to be the new owner.