The tradition

Turkmen weaving is built around the gül — a repeating tribal medallion that works almost like a coat of arms. Each tribe (Tekke, Yomut, Saryk, Ersari) carries its own gül, woven in lustrous wool dyed deep madder red. The pile is dense and finely knotted, and the same motifs appear on rugs, tent bands and storage bags. To read a Turkmen carpet is to read which family made it.