Kazakhstan

From Turkmen carpets, to Uzbek embroideries and Kirghiz felts, Central Asia is renowned for its carpets and textiles.  Kazakh carpets however, are relatively lesser known, arguably due to many pieces being wrongly classified as Kirghiz as they share common designs. Ancient shamanistic beliefs are represented in Kazakh carpet design harking back to their nomadic past, where symbols brought good fortune or protected against evil spirits, with the most popular motif, the ram’s horn still being reproduced in contemporary logos and building decoration. Kazakh carpets are generally characterised by larger, spaced out individual designs in shades of blue, yellow, brown, green and black on a warm red background. Wool was often mixed with goat hair, and camel hair sometimes added for extra softness and sheen for pieces not intended for the floor (superstition says that camel hair should not be walked on).

Apart from carpets, the Kazakhs made small finely woven kilims to be used as wall hangings that were presented to a bride’s parents as well as felt saddle bags, yurt entrance covers and storage bags. Less time consuming to produce than carpets, decorative felts provided a practical yet beautiful alternative, with embroidery-adorned felt used as yurt entrance covers and small wall hangings. Unique tent bands were also woven by Kazakh tribes with broader functional tent bands being wound around yurts to hold the felt wall in place, whilst narrower decorative tent bands with tassels used to decorate the inside of the yurt.