World Monitor Magazine Spring | Page 46

CULTURE Kazakh jewelry Kazakh jewelers traditionally use gold, silver, precious stones, corals, pearls, and other gems to create a variety of designs and pieces. Breastplate designs or necklaces of various designs were known as onir zhiyek (a rectangular shape), omrausha (arcuate), tumarsha or boytumar (triangular); for girl’s hair and braids, such designs were called sholpy, shashbau; bracelets, earrings, finger rings, buckles (or barrettes) were referred to askapsyrma; a waistband fastener was called a ilchek, and a decorative badge for saukele (hairwear) was called chiltyr; massive globe- shaped buttons for woman’s dresses were called topsyldak tuime, while pins were referred to astuireuysh. 44 world monitor In crafting Kazakh women’s jewelry, the masters apply a variety of techniques: founding, engraving, hammering, stamping, filigree, blackening, grains, and enamels. Artisans from the Mangyshlak and Guryev areas of Kazakhstan created the well- known Kazakh breastplate decorations and necklaces. Made of gold and precious stones, these pieces possess the traditional features of a polychrome style from the times of Huns. Usually bezels inserted with gems are bound in two concentric lines, the space between the bezels then filled with triangle figures made of grains and styled or designed with zoomorphic images (images of animals).