Beshir Rug BB5795 10'0" × 18'6"

This circa-1880 antique Beshir rug features an all-over design of floral and geometric abstractions in shades of light beige, yellow and white against an abrashed red field. A main border of ordered linear patterns completes the look of the antique carpet. Beshir rugs are made by the Beshir tribe, a subdivision of the Ersari group of Turkoman people, which inhabits the Amu Darya Valley in Turkmenistan. Antique Beshir rugs typically feature bright colors, although the designs are usually less geometric than this late 19th century carpet, and more reliant on large motifs and stylized flowers. Beshir rugs are finely knotted and usually made of wool. In contrast to other Turkoman groups, the Beshir do not use guls (tribal emblems) as the basis of their designs. While this antique Beshir carpet is consistent with other Turkoman rugs that are dominated by deep reds and blues, like other Beshir carpets, it makes use of bright yellow and white accents.