Turkoman Jewelry

Within the last 6 months, I have become interested in the Turkmen and the beautiful jewelry that their old masters  have created, so I thought I would pass on some information to you. 

The Republic of Turkmenistan, aka Turkmenia, is a country in Central Asia.  It is bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhistan and the Caspian Sea.  It has had a long and checkered history, as armies from one empire to another decamped there.  Until as recently as 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.  Athough it is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of the country is covered by the Karakum or Black Sand Desert, and are populated by many different tribes. 

Turkoman jewels, which constitute a delicate art full of secrets and with a very long past, are one of the most important elements of Turkmen culture.  Their works of gold and silver (much of which were made from melted down Russian rubles) produced in the past have reached the present day as masterpieces and are highly collectible.  The originality of their jewelry is a distinct feature of Turkmen culture that sets it apart from other cultures of other nations.  Turkmen jewelry serves different functions such as prayer boxes, hair adornment, protection, and dowry. 

The products of the Turkmen art of jewelry making not only embellish women but also convey various magical meanings which are believed to protect people from the “evil eye” and diseases.  They worked extensively with the gemstone of carnelian (as well as lapis and coral) which was believed to have a beneficial impact on human health.  It is also tradition that those who bought and wore their jewelry  would be provided with moral strength, joy and hope. 

In Turkmen society, women have a special place and have always been treated with respect.  National dresses for women are ornamented with embroidery, as well as decorations and embellishments  of precious stones and beads.  

In the past, whether it was jewelry, dress, rugs, weaponry or tents, the expression of the artist could signify age, family, tribe and social status of those who used them.   These ornaments and jewels displayed differences from tribe to tribe.  Whether a woman was married or not (as reflected in the Asyk design) and what tribe she belonged to could be told from her jewelry or dress. 

As with many cultures today, traditions have been lost but the Turkmen today have made a great effort to maintain their history, culture,  and the art of the Turkmen masters.  In fact, one is not allowed to bring jewelry out of the country that was made over 60 years ago.  So getting a piece of antique Turkoman jewelry that is still intact in its original form and being able to own a remarkable piece of elegance, grace, and history is quite exceptional!