Yamouth Rug | © Rugman

Origin of Yamouth Rugs 1

The Yomut are one of the largest Turkmen tribes, living in the western region of Turkmenistan and in northeastern Iran (Persia). The rugs and carpets range from good to fine in grade quality. Prime Yomut tribal weavings are considered a high art form in the antique market. Around the world, museums and collectors continue to acquire these beautiful nomadic woven creations.

History of Yamouth Rugs

The Yomut people are seminomads, working in agriculture, raising livestock, and herding sheep. The women weave traditional tribal items as well as rugs and carpets. The rugs are known in the antique market from the late eighteenth century. By the first quarter of the twentieth century, Yomut carpets became commercialized and weavers expanded to include a variety of colorations for the background and borders. Old Yomut rug formats range from bag faces to small room-size rugs. The main carpets are generally long and narrow, closer to gallery formats. Beginning at the turn of the century, weavers made carpets in standard room dimensions. After World War II, Yomut tribes in Iran produced oversize carpets because of market demands.

Characteristics of Yamouth Rugs

  • Material and Knots

The rugs have a wool foundation with a medium-high wool pile, but cotton can be chosen for the weft. Occasionally, silk or cotton is partially woven in the design elements. The Turkish (symmetric) knot is mainly used, but at times the Persian (asymmetric) knot appears. Flatwoven rugs are widely made by weavers.

  • Color

Early Yomut rug coloration for the background ranges between brick red to dark brownish red to dark purple red. The borders almost always are ivory in color. In addition, different shades of green, orange, blue, and brown are chosen for the guls and design elements.

  • Design and Pattern

Yomut rugs are geometric in design. Small woven items may have floral styles. The weavers employ the Gul (flower) motif, most often the Dyrnak gul or Gabsa gul, for the field patterns. Some neighboring Turkmen tribal gul motifs are also incorporated into Yomut carpets and other weavings. The designs usually feature gul or leaf-palmette motifs repeated vertically and horizontally throughout the ground. The gul sizes are interpreted as major and minor motifs in alternating rows in a balanced arrangement. Some early Yomut gul designs were woven solely with one major or minor gul type throughout the field. Antique Yomut carpet designs have two large end panels featuring flowers, leaves, the Shrub or Star motifs, or other stylized tribal motifs. The borders are usually narrow and feature leaves and vines alternating with palmettes, guls, or tribal motifs. The Yomut tribe makes almost all types of pile and flatwoven Turkmen rugs. These weavings include main (room-size) carpets, Engsi Rugs (tent doors), Asmalyk Rugs (bridal trappings), Namazlyk (prayer rugs), Juval (storage or transport bags), Mafrash (pillows or small bags), Okbash (decorative tent pole coverings), Torba (tent storage bags), and tent bands.

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  1. Abraham Levi Moheban. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets: Twenty-Five Centuries of Weaving. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press.