Structure:  13 x 35 = 455 asymmetrical kpsi, pulled open to the right, with a width/height ratio of nearly 1:3, resulting in a medium flat Salyr gül. Slightly depressed warps show from the back. Front face of a single tent bag with the original flat woven backing removed. Hand spun, drop spindled and combed wool in foundation and knot shoots. Wool yarns processed to give a straight spiked shiny hard tuft for this type of knot. Bleached hand processed white cotton highlights throughout the rug are usually not found in Teke weaves but rather Saryk ones. Both wool and cotton knots are closely cut. Top and bottom ends have a 1 in. flat woven web immediately following the nap in a dark blue & then red weft horizontal band followed by a natural beige wool kilim edge, cut, turned under and sewn on top. Dark blue band preceding natural blonde wool, cut, turned under and sewn on bottom. Invisible weft from the back uses two wool shoots. Pile runs from bottom to top indicating this piece was woven on the loom as a pair resulting in one pouch's nap running down and the other running up. Straight combed blonde wool warps. Medium handle. Fine weave. Velvety fine pile.

Use:  transport bag, cartage.

Ornamentation: 6 turreted Salyr (shield, Mary) main güls in 2 rows of 3 outlined in blue. Teke çüwals with Salyr main gül ornaments are common in Merv during the end of 19th cent. These güls are outlined in light blue and lined on the inside with an outer outwardly facing gelin barmak motifs and a inner yashil gochak variation. Eight 8-point stars inside squares surround inner crosses to form two minor Sagdak emblems and10 partially hidden Sagdak star emblems with Aÿna güls inside. 2 small guard borders with diamond and cross motifs flank a main khaikelbagi British flag border (amulet bag).

Unusual features:  The centers of each main gül in two complete minor and 10 partially hidden minor Charky palek emblems are highlighted with white cotton, along with highlights in the borders. Bottom apron composed of offset diagonal rows of small stem 3 petal flowers (kelle motif) in alternating colors, each petal plied with white cotton and every 4th row dyed with a disappearing effect of light blue.

Condition: Original flat woven blonde wool backing removed. Damage to both side edges repiled about ½ inch into the sides. The rest of this bag face is in perfect condition.

Provenance: Central Asian Western Turkestan, oasis province of Merv, located in south west part of Turkestan. Originally Western Turkestan it then became Russian Turkestan for several centuries and is now Turkmenistan. The Russians completed the conquest of Turkestan by occupying the Merv oasis in 1884.

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