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East Turkestan
Prior to the Chinese occupation in 1878, the area in western China above Tibet was called East
Turkestan. Even though the area itself is no longer called East Turkestan, the rugs of this area are
still labeled as East Turkestan rugs. They may also be marketed under 'Samarkand' because East
Turkestan rugs used to be traded in Samarkand. The main East Turkestan sub-styles include
Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. East Turkestan rugs have always been rare, and they are still being
woven on a small scale.
The layout of East Turkestan rugs can be either medallion or all-over. Their pattern is mainly
pomegranate and vase, which is a symbol of fertility. The vase symbolizes Mother Earth and the
The layout of East Turkestan rugs can be either medallion or all-over. Their pattern is mainly
geometric. East Turkestan rugs tend to be long and narrow. A very common design is the
pomegranate and vase, which is a symbol of fertility. The vase symbolizes Mother Earth and the
pomegranate is the fruit growing from Mother Earth. The vase could be on one end or both ends of
the rug and is usually very small, even smaller than the pomegranates. The pomegranates are
attached to each other with branches like a tree.
Another frequent design consists of three medallions on a solid background. The medallions are
sometimes squares with rounded corners or hexagons. The middle medallion represents Buddha;
the other two medallions represent Buddha's acolytes. Other versions also exist such as one
medallion and corners, or less common, eight to ten medallions in two columns inside square
lattices, which could be considered an all-over layout. East Turkestan medallions usually consist of
smaller medallions within larger ones.
Another design is a repeating all-over gul. The guls have hooks around their outer border and a
rosette inside them. A very common border motif is a shape resembling an anchor, which can
sometimes be quite large. Rosettes with eight petals are also common in the borders. They can also
come in various sizes. The usual background colors are red, blue, salmon, ivory, or yellow. The
colors most commonly used for the motifs are red, blue, light blue, blue green, white, yellow, and
brown.
Prior to the Chinese occupation in 1878, the area in western China above Tibet was called East
Turkestan. Even though the area itself is no longer called East Turkestan, the rugs of this area are
still labeled as East Turkestan rugs. They may also be marketed under 'Samarkand' because East
Turkestan rugs used to be traded in Samarkand. The main East Turkestan sub-styles include
Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. East Turkestan rugs have always been rare, and they are still being
woven on a small scale.
The layout of East Turkestan rugs can be either medallion or all-over. Their pattern is mainly
pomegranate and vase, which is a symbol of fertility. The vase symbolizes Mother Earth and the
The layout of East Turkestan rugs can be either medallion or all-over. Their pattern is mainly
geometric. East Turkestan rugs tend to be long and narrow. A very common design is the
pomegranate and vase, which is a symbol of fertility. The vase symbolizes Mother Earth and the
pomegranate is the fruit growing from Mother Earth. The vase could be on one end or both ends of
the rug and is usually very small, even smaller than the pomegranates. The pomegranates are
attached to each other with branches like a tree.
Another frequent design consists of three medallions on a solid background. The medallions are
sometimes squares with rounded corners or hexagons. The middle medallion represents Buddha;
the other two medallions represent Buddha's acolytes. Other versions also exist such as one
medallion and corners, or less common, eight to ten medallions in two columns inside square
lattices, which could be considered an all-over layout. East Turkestan medallions usually consist of
smaller medallions within larger ones.
Another design is a repeating all-over gul. The guls have hooks around their outer border and a
rosette inside them. A very common border motif is a shape resembling an anchor, which can
sometimes be quite large. Rosettes with eight petals are also common in the borders. They can also
come in various sizes. The usual background colors are red, blue, salmon, ivory, or yellow. The
colors most commonly used for the motifs are red, blue, light blue, blue green, white, yellow, and
brown.
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Styles