A rare and unique long rug attributed to the Ersari tribe located in the Middle Amu Darya region, distinguished by an ivory background with at its center a small octagon with a spiked contour and punctuated by three rows of polychrome quatrefoil motifs enclosing eight-pointed stars. The hooked star border adds an extra dose of mystery to the piece. The structure and handle reminds me of the the rare multiple niche design rugs of the Ersari such as the example published on the front cover of V.G. Moshkova’s Carpets of the People of Central Asia.
More on Antique West Turkestan