Gols are tribal designs employed extensively in turkmen (turkomen) and other tribal rugs. Generally you can think of a gol like you would consider a crest, it is a means of identifying the tribe that the weaver is from. The flag of Turkmenistan employs several of the more important tribes' gols into its design.

Being able to identify a rug by it's gols can tell you a good deal.

I hope to add more information on each gol. In the interim, if anyone else has information, or can help me fill in the gaps with examples, please email me. Thanks.

Aranji

Alti Bolagh

Beshir, Turkestan

Chakesh

Chobash

Example (curtousey of www.pakpersianrugs.com)

Chodor

Example

Dali, Afghanistan

Ersari, Babaseqal

Example

Ersari, Charchangi

Example

Ersari, Dali

Example

Ersari, Kazan

Example

Farukh

Jangalarik

Kizil Ayak/Afghan Pendi

Example

Kizil Ayak

Example

Kizil Ayaks

Kunduz, Afghanistan

Mauri

Penjdeh

Saltuq

Example

Sarukh

Saryk?

Suleiman

Suleiman, Mixture

Taghan 1

Example

Taghan 2

Taghan, Turkoman

Tekke

Example

Tekke, Turkoman

Yamut, Afghanistan/Turkestan

Yamut, Persi,Russia,Afghanistan
Example

Yamut Turkoman

Mixture, Bastardized

links to my rugs: Arbedil / Baluch / Bidjar / Karajeh / Luri / Qasgai / Shiraz / Hamadan(1)