This handsome rug is of classic Ersari tribe design coming from the area of the central Amu Darya (Oxus) river. Some authorities also attribute it to a sub category of Ersari weaves called Suleimani. Virtually the same rug is found in Elena Tsareva’s catalogue of the Neville Kingston collection (page 180). A distinguishing feature of these Ersari rugs are the large scale of the octagonal gols whose size and design is specific to Ersari weaves. Here they are in a grid of 3 x 7 with a colour palette of warm coral-salmon reds and oranges against darker red-brown grounds – again characteristic of Ersari tribal pieces. The golli gols (flower gols)are divided into four quadrants and within each are stepped or hooked forms.  Their size and open spacing means they dominate the field rather than creating a dense pattern as in other Turkmen pieces. The border design of Turkmen geometic forms which complement the main field rather than competing with it. The rug has the luminous quality of a Suleimani piece with its warm, glowing colours. It can probably be dated to the mid-late 19th century.