Tekke Khalyk

West Turkestan, c. 55 x 89 cm, first half of the 19th century, these rare hangings are also called “deslik” and are mainly from the Tekke tribes; just like kapunuk hangings, the khalyks are also ‘U’-shaped (partly with three arms) and used to be draped just once as a curtain atop the bridal litter; the present piece, with its diagonal kochanak cross in the horizontal panel, its vertical kochanak motifs in the vertical arms and its coffered triangular flap, belongs to the same group as the carpet in the Rickmers Collection; very bright, delicate colours with soft feel, good pile condition without repairs or tears, all woven finishes folded backwards, original side edges, the side decorative tassels have almost completely survived, ornamental fringes no longer preserved.

Further reading:
Robert Pinner, The Rickmers Collection, Turkoman Rugs, pl. 43 and 44; Elena Tsareva, Turkmen Carpets, Masterpieces of Steppe Art, from 16th to 19th Centuries, The Hoffmeister Collection, ill. 37 and 38; Werner Loges, Turkmenische Teppiche, ill. 12; Uwe Jourdan, Battenberg Antiquitäten-Kataloge, Orientteppiche, vol. 4: Turkmenische Teppiche, ill. 91 and 92.