Central Asia Khotan Samarkand
For thousands of years the arid steppes, deserts and mountain ranges of Central Asia were traversed by merchants’ caravans travelling from China to Western Europe and back along the Silk Route. The exotic rugs of the oasis towns of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan are often known as Samarkands. Their distinctive coloration with lacquer red, celadon and Chinese yellow owes much to the influence of neighbouring Turkey and China and their designs borrow themes from many cultures including Chinese fretwork, lotus blossoms and cloud bands, Indian infinity symbols, Ottoman carnations and bold reciprocal borders and Persian florals. The carpets of East Turkestan are typically of long and narrow format and are sometimes woven with silk pile and metal-thread brocaded embellishment.
Samarkand Gallery Carpet
Price on application
East Turkestan, 19th Century
14ft 0in length x 7ft 4in width
4.27m x 2.24m