Yarkand Rugs
YARKAND (Yarkend; Modern Uighur Yärkänd; Chinese Shache), a town in Chinese Turkestan, at the southwestern end of the Tarim Basin. Yarkand is located in a fertile oasis on the banks of the river of the same name; it is accessible from Khotan via Karghalik by the road going along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and from Kashgar situated to the northwest.
The Yarkand Khanate, was a Sunni Muslim Turkic state ruled by the Mongol descendants of Chagatai Khan. It was founded by Sultan Said Khan in 1514 as a western offshoot of Moghulistan, itself an eastern offshoot of the Chagatai Khanate. It was eventually conquered by the Dzungar Khanate in 1705.
The Yarkand oasis covers some 1,240 square miles (3,210 square km) and is highly fertile. It produces a variety of grain crops, as well as cotton, hemp, beans, fruit, and mulberry leaves for the local silk industry. Around the oasis there is extensive stock rearing, primarily of camels, horses, and sheep. The towns produce many handicrafts, such as fine cotton and silk textiles, carpets, and leather goods. Like in other major cities of Eastern Turkistan, antique rugs and carpets produced here may have been branded as Samarkand.
Technical aspects and the structure of Yarkand Rugs
Yarkand rugs have asymmetric (Persian) knots. Their foundation made of cotton and piles are woolen. Antique Yarkands have highly offset warps. The knot density of the region is about 40 to 100 per square inch. Antique silken pieces may have densities up to 300 knots per square inch. Threads of silver may be used in such pieces. Rug sizes are more likely. Various shapes could be found.
Dyeing and painting of Yarkand Rugs
Red is essential in pomegranate designs attributed to Yarkand. The red used is silken pieces tend to purplish tones like magenta and burgundy. The grounds of such silken pieces may be light turquoise or light jade. A rich yellow used in small amount. Deep red, dark blue and beige are dominant in woolen pieces.
Designs and patterns of Yarkand Rugs
Lattice-structured designs are common in Yarkand. The Eastern Turkestani design named after Yarkand consisted of a lattice of pomegranate leaves, branches and fruit all with a shining red on a bright ground. A type of circular medallions of Eastern Turkestan rugs called Ay gul. These medallions, too, may contain pomegranates as well as rosettes and cloud bands.
Both all-over and medallion designs could be found among Yarkand woolen-piled rugs. Rows of octagons make another common design those made by Turkmens of central Asia.
