ANTIQUE TURKMEN RUGS

Turkmen Carpets: Masterpieces of Steppe Art, from 16th to 19th Centuries The Hoffmeister Collection

The Hoffmeister Collection is one of the best and most extensive private collections of antique and historic Turkmen knotted carpets in Western Europe and America. It competes alongside important collections from Western museums as well as those in Russia and Turkmenistan. With almost 200 objects - among which are distinguished carpets and bags - artistic excellence and historical significance come together. As one of the first to do so, Hoffmeister has determined the age of these knotted works of the Turkmen with the aid of radio-carbon techniques. According to the results from the science and technology university ETH in Zurich, the earliest pieces of the collection originate from the sixteenth century.

Both the cultural significance of the collection and the scientific and artistic value of its pieces are discussed in this book. The readers can really sense the texture of these knotted wares through the brilliant photography, which carry them away on a journey into the lost world of the Steppes folk of Central Asia.

Turkmen rug with gul pattern hand made in Turkmenistan measuring aprox 2 feet by 6 feet. Got it at GoodWill for $5.00

Turkmen rug with gul pattern hand made in Turkmenistan measuring aprox 2 feet by 6 feet. Got it at GoodWill for $5.00. WooHoo!

Turkmen rug with gul pattern hand made in Turkmenistan measuring aprox 2 feet by 6 feet. Got it at GoodWill for $5.00. WooHoo!

This piece is only three foot by three foot. It was sold to me as a bridal piece. It was made by the bride to prove her worth as a rug maker to her husband's family. I love it because it starts out wonky and then gets gorgeous. It's my personal inspiration as a maker.

The Hoffmeister Collection is one of the best and most extensive private collections of antique and historic Turkmen knotted carpets in Western Europe and America. It competes alongside important collections from Western museums as well as those in Russia and Turkmenistan. With almost 200 objects - among which are distinguished carpets and bags - artistic excellence and historical significance come together. As one of the first to do so, Hoffmeister has determined the age of these knotted works of the Turkmen with the aid of radio-carbon techniques. According to the results from the science and technology university ETH in Zurich, the earliest pieces of the collection originate from the sixteenth century.

Both the cultural significance of the collection and the scientific and artistic value of its pieces are discussed in this book. The readers can really sense the texture of these knotted wares through the brilliant photography, which carry them away on a journey into the lost world of the Steppes folk of Central Asia.