Turkmen national craft connected with the Great Silk way

The State museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan invites all who wishes to the educational conference Turkmen national craft connected with the Great Silk way and exhibition in honour of the year “Turkmenistan-heart of the Great Silk way”, which will be held on the 19nd of 2018 at 15:00

Applied art of the Turkmen people is rich and various. Carpet weaving, jewellery, weaving and felt production are its varieties. After Turkmenistan gained independence there is given more attention in studying history of the people and its cultural heritage

Carpet weaving is one of the ancient national arts. Some historical finds and scientific information testify to it. Carpet weaving has appeared among the seminomadic and settled people. Carpets and carpet products are closely connected with a life of Turkmens. Turkmens adorned their house, horse, camel, articles of everyday use by hand made carpet products. Even pot holders to remov a cauldron from a fire were made of carpet. The use of natural dyes in carpet weaving from times immemorial gives to carpets new iridescent colours.

Felting by tradition is also carried out from the earliest times. Turkmen felt mats differ by their beauty and durability. "Garment" of Turkmen white yurta is also made of felt mat. Serpik, uzuk, durluk concern to the same products. Various knitted products were also made of wool. These are gloves, socks and girdle

Now, Turkmens still weave fabrics manually by tradition despite of development of the textile industry. In ancient historical manuscripts it is noticed, that “In Х century Turkmens sold cattle and bought cotton and silk fabrics in Merv. The people of Merv weaved “kazin” and “mulham” fabrics. Turkmens who lived in Akhal and Murgap oases weaved “gyrmyzy keteni” fabrics and spread them in West and South Turkmenistan. And it means that these “keteni” fabrics of red, pinkish, green colour with a yellow border on the edge are known since early times. When you look at “keteni” cloth, you recollect the fiery-red poppies mounted by beds with yellow camomiles and a green field with bluebells. Tools used in weaving differ by their simplicity. For their manufacturing were used strong wood of apricot or mulberry tree. National fabrics were often weaved in the simple home weaver's loom named "tara". As well as "tara" keeps its simplicity from the times immemorial, weaving of national fabrics is also immutable still now. The national beauty is concentrated in rich in patterns, fine gold and silver jewellery ornaments made by jewellers specially for women. The combination of new patterns with ancient ones of our grandmothers, harmony with new style gives an ornaments a special attractiveness.

Turkmen art of jewellery also glorifies our people all over the whole world for a long time. Turkmens say not without purpose “Craft of the father is peculiar to the son” as this art, which is a symbol of purity and honesty, has reached up to now, for centuries passing from the father to the son. The splendid jewellery, which was made by skilful hands of Turkmen jewellers, differ by a special originality and beauty. This surprising national jewelleyr is a fruit of a great skill and indefatigable work of Turkmen jewellers. Silver is considered to be the basic raw material in jewellery, which differs by the cleanliness, softness, a pliability and fibration. After the processing by gold (gilding) it does not lose these properties and being combined and being in harmony, looks even more beautiful and surprising.

Every month of the year declared as “Turkmenistan - the heart of Great Silk way” is signified by glorious dates and actions. The state museum of the State cultural centre of Turkmenistan also carries out a lot of work. The state museum as the centre of cultural heritage, carries out education conference “Turkmen national craft connected with the Great Silk way” and in its network an exhibition with the same name on 19-th of April 2018. At this conference and exhibition are presented the museum values propagandizing four kinds of national craft, namely, carpet weaving, felting, weaver's art, jewellery, the moment of weaving a carpet in the home weaver's loom and things necessary for it: wool, the plants, which give natural dyes, kinds of a wool and dyed wool, comb, a ball, card, a knife, scissors, and also final goods - carpets, rugs, carpet products. Accessories for manufacturing felts continue the exhibition: wool, comb, card, cane, felts, and felt products. Here are also there for weaver's manufacture: natural cocoons, a home tool for winding a yarn and others. At the exhibition are presented also knitted goods and accessories necessary for knitting. Besides it there are shown various products of jewellery. We thank the honourable President, who has given the chance for wide propagation of a national heritage of the Turkmen people in the year, named “Turkmenistan - heart of the Great Silk way”.