Turkish Nomadic Pile Rug

Over seven feet of pale wool, and one small red mark that refuses to explain itself.

This nomadic pile rug comes from Karapinar, Konya, in Turkey, and dates to the 20th century. It is wool. Nomadic and village weavers on the Anatolian plateau made long-piled rugs like this as warm bedding and floor covering, with the thick fleece doing most of the work. The field is almost entirely undyed-looking cream, shading to tan on one end. A seam runs along the middle, a fringe finishes each short side, and a lone red motif sits off center. It is nearly five feet wide and over seven long.

A signature, perhaps. It is not saying.