a very rare antique Tekke Turkoman / Turkmen silk embroidered on silk yellow Chyrpy ( Cherpi / Chirpi / Chyrpi ), dating to the second half of 19th Century. The Chyrpy was the quintessential garment of the women in Tekke Turkoman tribes in central asia. They were worn as a cloak over the head with the false sleeves hanging down the back. They were made in various ground colour types. Each colour symbolised the status of the woman who would wear it. While all women had and wore the darker indigo and black examples, the yellow ones were reserved only for the married women. Being the most important garment in her life, this garment would be the last thing she would depart with. For this reason the yellow Chyrpy has always been a rare textile art and sought after by collectors around the world. This excellent and dazzling example has fine polychrome silk embroidery on the yellow silk ground. The gorgeous dyes of the silks really bring out the archaic designs. It has the classic block print and plain lining and finished with lovely polychrome silk tassels. It is also in good overall shape considering its age. It has a gorgeous patina indicating good age. Some surface wear to the ground silk which is expected. size: sneck to bottom 110cm (45").