"Turkmenhaly" State Association

  A Turkmen rug is a type of handmade floor-covering textile traditionally originating in Central Asia. A few centuries back, almost all Turkmen rugs were produced by nomadic tribes almost entirely with locally obtained materials, wool from the herds and vegetable dyes, or other natural dyes from the land. They used geometrical designs that varied from tribe to tribe; most famous are the Yomut, Ersari, Saryk, Salyr, and Teke. The classic Turkmen carpet has a dark red, as well as a brown and blue color and a geometric ornament. In Turkmenistan, as in the East in general, handmade rugs were the main wealth of the family, showed its status in society. The popular Turkmen proverb says: "In the East, the house is where the carpet is spread." The main material for making Turkmen rug has always been wool. It is inherent in Turkmen people to provide sheep wool with curative properties, which are sure to be passed on to the carpet as well. Carpets and rugs from Turkmenia are distinguished by their durability, due to which they preserve their primordiality for many centuries.