2 x 4 Antique Turkmen Chuval Bag Face Rug 79341

79341 Late 19th Century Antique Turkmen Chuval Bag Face, 02'06 x 03'11.

Nomadic Legacy & Guardians of the Steppe: A Chuval Masterpiece

From the windswept steppes of Central Asia comes this antique Yomud Turkmen Chuval, a woven relic of nomadic life that carries the soul of the caravan age. Once forming the face of a large storage bag, this piece served both as a utilitarian item and as a proud display of tribal identity. Its rhythmic rows of bold Yomud guls—angular, geometric emblems of protection and belonging—mark it instantly as the work of Yomud weavers, whose artistry blended necessity with spiritual symbolism. Each gul is a seal of lineage, a motif passed down through generations as both ornament and ancestral signature.

The palette glows with the deep resonance of natural madder red, enriched by indigo blues and ivory accents that shimmer against the saturated field. This is the language of authenticity: vegetal dyes drawn from earth and plant, yielding tones that soften and mellow with age into the patina so coveted by collectors. The bold kufic-inspired border encloses the composition with architectural precision, transforming what was once a nomadic storage textile into a timeless work of graphic art.

Rarity heightens its prestige. Woven in the late 19th century, this cherished treasure is a survivor of a world where weaving was both domestic craft and cultural expression. The plain elem section at its base, a space of restraint, only enhances the impact of the central field—a design choice that reflects the weaver’s masterful balance of ornament and silence. Today, such authentic Yomud bag faces are treasured as portable museums of Turkmen culture, increasingly scarce in a market hungry for genuine nomadic textiles.

To own this piece is to possess more than a rug—it is to hold a fragment of history, a woven witness to the rhythms of migration, trade, and ceremony. Its tribal motifs resonate as symbols of continuity and identity, while its elegance speaks to a cosmopolitan eye attuned to both heritage and modern design. For the discerning collector, this Yomud Chuval stands as an object of prestige and exclusivity, uniting the raw spirit of the steppe with the refined sensibility of art.

• Abrash. Age Wear.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Turkmenistan.
• Measures: 02'06 x 03'11.
• Pile Height: 0.34 of an inch.
• Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.