How it began
Turkmen carpet making is the craft of the Turkmen people of what is now Turkmenistan. UNESCO describes hand-woven woolen carpets whose colored patterns belong to one of the five main Turkmen tribes. Britannica describes the Tekke carpet as a floor covering woven by the Tekke Turkmen, the major population group of Turkmenistan. The sources give no founding date; the craft is passed down through generations within families.
How it works
The carpets are woven on horizontal or vertical looms, mainly from wool threads dyed in different colors. They have a dense texture and patterns that form clear linear geometric designs. Each of the five main tribes has its own characteristic ornament, so a carpet shows where its weaver comes from. The designs also draw on the plants and animals of the weaver's surroundings, according to the UNESCO description.
How it spread
The practice is found all over Turkmenistan, and carpet products are used across the country and feature at births, weddings and mourning rituals. UNESCO notes that the skills are transmitted within families from one generation to the next. Wikipedia describes Turkmen rugs as a type of handmade floor covering that originated in Central Asia with the Turkmen tribes.
Where it stands today
Turkmenistan placed the craft on its national inventory of intangible heritage in 2013, and UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List in 2019. The country marks an annual Carpet Day. UNESCO asked that safeguarding efforts support the women who carry the tradition. Carpet making remains a sign of cultural identity and a source of income for weavers.
