Turkmen juval, Yomud group. First half of the 19th century or before. This is an interesting example, published by David Rueben in Gols and Guls ii, plate 37. Reuben proposes a possible Eagle Group designation (??)- see his description below. The piece has a hard to capture aubergine field color and what looks like a pale yellow color that he describes as beige, but is probably camel hair. It was used extensively throughout the piece where one might expect to find a yellow. i find this quite unusual and have not seen camel hair used in this way in other examples. The knotting is primarily open left with areas at the sides and elsewhere of symmetrical knotting. The wefts are in several different colors, pale red, brown, pale aubergine and natural camel hair. The ground color varies considerably in different light, but i would describe it as a pale aubergine, leaning a little towards the better side of Chodor aubergine. This field color is not atypical for Yomud pieces. All images here were shot in a pale sunlight filtered through a thin, high layer of San Francisco fog. Though it didn't appear dirty, it was given a simple soaking wash and the handle and colors improved nicely. Size: 52 x 30 inches. This juval face is mostly complete with the top flat-woven section folded and sewed down and selvedges intact. The original flatwoven bottom and back are missing. This piece pre-dates the period where these things are relatively common and has features that allow it stand out among other members of the tribe.