Shyrdak Felt Rug, Kyrgyzstan

Waves roll in at both ends, and everything between them is horns.

This shyrdak felt rug comes from Kyrgyzstan and is contemporary, in camel felt. Kyrgyz felt makers have long made these mosaic rugs for yurts and homes, cutting matching motifs from contrasting felt and stitching them edge to edge, a method that wastes almost nothing. A chocolate brown band at each end carries large curling wave scrolls in grey. Between them, bands alternate cream, brown and grey, filled with rows of ram's horn motifs and branching forms and separated by sawtooth borders. Fine stitching outlines every shape. It is catalogued at 30.5 wide and 61.5 long. It is 30.5 inches wide and 61.5 long.

Symmetry, held together with a needle and a great deal of patience.