Gul (design)
A gul (also written gol, göl and gül) is a medallion-like design element typical of traditional hand-woven carpets from Central and West Asia. In Turkmen weavings they are often repeated to form the pattern in the main field.
Shape
Gul are medallions, often octagonal, and often somewhat angular on a generally octagonal plan, though they can be somewhat rounded within the constraints of carpet-weaving, and some are lozenge-shaped (rhombuses). They usually have either twofold rotational symmetry or mirror reflection symmetry (often both left/right and up/down).[1]
Gul were historically described in the West as being elephant's foot motifs. Other Western guesses held that the gul was a drawing of a round Turkmen tent, with lines between tents representing irrigation canals; or that the emblem was a totemic bird. None of these descriptions have any basis in weaving tradition or culture.[2]
Etymology
The term gul, gol, göl or gül is used widely across Central and West Asia, and among carpet specialists in the West. It is derived from the Persian word gol (گل) which means flower or rose.[3][4]
Usage
In Turkmen weavings, such as bags and rugs, guls are often repeated to form the basic pattern in the main field (excluding the border).[4][5]
The different Turkmen tribes such as
Western authors have used comparison of the "design vocabulary" of tribal guls, reproduced on traditional rugs, in studying the ethnogenesis of Asian peoples.[6]
In Western culture
Western artists including
See also
References
- ^ "Rug Gallery. Carpet Turkey (Kurdish) 18th century". MathForum. 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ISBN 0-7126-2501-1.
- ^ "Rug Layouts and Designs". Little Persia. 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-7126-2501-1.
- ^ a b "Carpet Motifs: A Beginner's Guide". Arastan. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ISBN 1-84472-099-3.
- ^ Howe, R. John (2 October 2010). "The "Memling" Gul Motif, The Lecture". R. John Howe. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ISBN 0-7287-0362-9. page 57
- ^ "Turkish carpet". Kilim Collection. 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
Further reading
- Louise W. Mackie, Jon Thompson (1980). Turkmen, tribal carpets and traditions. Textile Museum (Washington, D.C.).