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.
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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).