Oriental Rugs Dictionary
Asmalyk (Osmuulduk)
An asmalyk is a small, usually pentagonal-shaped rug woven by Turkmen tribes. These textiles were traditionally used as decorative coverings for the sides of camels during wedding ceremonies. Asmalyks were produced by several Turkmen tribes, including the Tekke, Yomut, and Ersari, and typically feature tribal motifs arranged within a distinctive pentagonal format. Because of their ceremonial use and distinctive shape, asmalyks are highly recognizable among Turkmen textiles.
