The territory from which the so-called "Turkoman" rugs come is that part of Central Asia consisting of Turkestan, Eastern Turkestan and Russian Turkestan lying north of Persia and Afghanistan and west of the Caspian Sea.
It comprises thousands upon thousands of square miles and is inhabited by numerous rug-making tribes of Nomads. The distinguishing marks of the Turkoman products are their wide web, their octagon and medallion designs and their old traditional colors of predominating red with patches of white, brown, and green. The dyes are usually fast and the knot is always Persian with the exception of an occasional Yomud or Samarkand, which may be tied with the Turkish knot. The rugs of Eastern and Russian Turkestan are really Chinese, but geographically should be classed with the other Turkoman products. Having been in the past less accessible they are now found in relative abundance and are therefore the least costly.
WHY SO NAMED.--After the city of Khiva, in the province of Bokhara, from the vicinity of which they come. The name Afghan is sometimes used because some of the inhabitants of northern Afghanistan contribute to the supply.
BY WHOM MADE.--By the Kirzig tribe of Nomads living in the province of Bokhara and in Northern Afghanistan.
KNOT.--Senna. Number vertically seven to twelve; number horizontally six to eight; number to square inch forty-two to ninety-six.
WOOF.--Black or gray wool or goats' hair.
NAP.--Fine lustrous wool or goats' hair of various lengths.
WEAVE.--Loosely tied so that on the back it has the appearance of the Ghiordes knot.
SIDES.--Usually a wide selvage of black or dark brown goats' hair, sometimes containing as many as seven cords.
ENDS.--Wide selvage at each end in plain red or striped with blue lines. The long, shaggy fringe of the loose goats' hair warp is a characteristic feature.
[Illustration: KHIVA BOKHARA (AFGHAN) CARPET PROPERTY OF PROF. DELMAR HAWKINS]
BORDER.--From two to four narrow border stripes, usually three.
PREVAILING COLORS.--A lavish use of the Turkoman reds in the field with designs in blue, orange, brown, green, and white.
DYES.--Good in the antiques. Nearly all of the new pieces are chemically dyed.
DESIGNS.--The octagon is almost universally employed and is quartered by alternating colors. Animal forms are seldom seen. The prayer form is also seldom found.