Tent Door Hanging (Ensi)

first half 19th century

Not on view

Admired for their deep, rich hues and the strength of their design, the textile arts of the Turkmen weavers combine a stark, dramatic beauty with absolute functionality. The seasonal migrations of the Turkmen tribes require that their every possession—even their homes—be collapsible and portable. This large, knotted-pile textile, similar in most respects to a carpet, likely served instead to cover the entrance to a Turkmen tent. Such tent door hangings, called ensi, with their thick, densely knotted pile, not only protected the family from the outside elements, but also added further color and comfort to an interior living space already replete with soft carpets, cushions, and laden storage bags.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Tent Door Hanging (Ensi)
Date: first half 19th century
Geography: Attributed to present-day Afghanistan or Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Medium: Wool (warp, weft and pile), cotton (pile); symmetrically knotted pile
Dimensions: Rug: H. 76 1/2 in. (194.3 cm)
W. 54 in. (137.2 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Rugs
Credit Line: The James F. Ballard Collection, Gift of James F. Ballard, 1922
Object Number: 22.100.42
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Tent Door Surround, Wool, goat's hair; asymmetrically knotted pile — Tent Door Surround
19th century

Fragment of a Storage Bag, Wool (warp and weft), cotton (weft and pile), wool (pile), silk (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — Fragment of a Storage Bag
first half 19th century

Carpet, Wool (warp, weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — Carpet
19th century

Tekke Main Carpet, Wool; asymmetrically knotted pile — Tekke Main Carpet
probably early–mid-19th century

Tekke Main Carpet, Wool (warp), wool (weft and pile); asymmetrically knotted pile — Tekke Main Carpet
early 19th century

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