Inspired by the life’s work of Peter and Mügül Andrews (www.andrewspeter.info) in extensively documenting nomadic tent types, we are now making more accurate representations of the traditional tent than have previously been available. What is known as a ‘yurt’ in the West has become a homogenized version of several varieties of trellis-walled tent and what is usually manufactured is either the Mongolian Ger or the ‘British Yurt’ with a standard dimension. Here we offer several kinds of yurts (trellis tents), categorised by their differences in roof rafter profile with examples of their people of origin. The illustrations are from ‘Nomadic Tent Types in the Middle East’* (wiesbaden 1997)

Straight Roof Trellis Tent eg Mongolian Ger

This type is best known in Mongolia. It consists of a sturdy frame with straight

t roof rafters and a heavy wooden wheel, not steamed like in the Turkic types, and a low wooden door.


Bent Roof Trellis Tent
Standard Roof Bend e.g. Türkmen of Iran
A gracefully domed roof profile, with a high bend on the rafters and a
large steam-bent wheel with many spokes (cross bracing). The wooden  door has a frame that can be taken apart for easier transport.

Double Roof Bend e.g. Firuzkhuhi of Afghanistan
A very special roof profile with an 'S-shaped' rafter with a double bend, resulting in a pointed roof with an inverted curve. The wheel is smaller than other typical Turkic trellis tents and has a high bend in the cross-bracing which gives the wheel a nipple-like look. The door is, again, made to be collapsible. Another special feature of this yurt is that it has a two-tiered trellis; rather than usual full-height wall, where there are two trellis sections made to rest on top of each other. This was traditionally for easier transport on small animals

Deep Roof Bend e.g. Özbek of Afghanistan
This variety enjoys a very deep bend in the rafter which gives the roof a bulbous-domed profile. The wheel is somewhat like the Turkmen wheel with many cross bracings. This again is made with a two tiered trellis, and a collapsible door. **

* Peter Alford Andrews, Nomad tent types in the Middle East (2 vols.), Wiesbaden, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag,
    1997  ISBN 3-88226-890-5  (still in print)

    vol.1 Texts xvi, 562 pp. 1 map, vol.2 Illustrations, xxvi, 178 pp. 90 illns., 144 drawings;

    soft-bound cloth, Eur 132.-

    From: Dr Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Tauernstrasse 11, D-65199 Wiesbaden, Germany

**A two tiered trellis wall section is optional with these two varieties.

All our Yurts are covered by high quality canvas covers instead of having only a felt cover as the indigenous tents, Felt is available as an option too.

The canvas we work with has been developed especially for us to withstand more weather and to last longer  (see Canvas).