Turkmen textiles on display at Johnson Museum

In Turkmen societies, the bride rides in a processional from her village to the wedding on a camel adorned with textiles like this knotted-pile trapping from the 19th century. Johnson Museum of Art

The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell presents "Turkmen Textiles," which will be on view at the museum March 26 to May 29.

Drawn from a private collection, this exhibition presents traditional knotted-pile weavings of the nomadic and seminomadic Turkmen people, whose homeland encompasses modern Turkmenistan, as well as parts of Iran and Afghanistan.

"Turkmen carpets, tent hangings, bags and camel trappings are admired for distinctive geometric designs based on a medallion-like motif known as gul, literally 'flower,' in a palette dominated by rich reds and browns," said Ellen Avril, curator of Asian art and chief curator of the Johnson Museum.

In traditional Turkmen societies, weaving is an art practiced by women who have learned the basic patterns associated with their tribal group and who then execute the intricate designs by memory. At a young age, a girl begins to prepare the textiles that will comprise her bridal dowry. Some of the Turkmen textile types relate directly to the wedding procession, when the bride rides to the groom's home on a camel adorned with various knotted-pile trappings.

"The superb examples in this exhibition celebrate one of the great Central Asian carpet traditions," said Frank Robinson, the Richard J. Schwartz Director of the museum. "We are grateful to the collectors for generously sharing their treasures with our visitors."

The Johnson Museum has a permanent collection of more than 30,000 works of art from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. The museum building was designed by I.M. Pei. Funds for the building were donated by alumnus Herbert F. Johnson, chairman of S.C. Johnson & Sons, makers of Johnson Wax. The building opened in 1973.