| Description |
Tush kiyiz represents intensely embroidered ornamental carpet used to decorate the house. It is of a rectangular shape and embroidered on different types of fabrics. Initially it was used for insulating purposes in the yurt. Most probably, the first wall carpets were made of felt, which is evident from its name: tush – meaning “outer” or “in front”, and kiyiz – meaning “felt.” tush kiyiz is an example of Kyrgyz embroidery.
Embroidery is one of the most ancient and most wide-spread crafts of Kyrgyz people. During the centuries Kyrgyz women have developed their own ornamental style, which is dominated by vegetative and zoomorphic motifs such as the ornaments of leafs, branches, flowers as well as round and spiral patterns. Kyrgyz embroidery leaves a lot of room for artistic expression and improvisation. Some Kyrgyz women embroider without stencils based on their own memory and imagination.
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| Social and cultural significance |
For Kyrgyz people tush-kiyiz had great social and cultural significance. Tush-kiyiz was made of wool, as it was originally called, back then. Since Kyrgyz people were nomads, wool was the most convenient material for nomadic life. Since Kyrgyz people lived in boz-ui, tush-kiyiz was initially used to keep it warm. Later people wanted to decorate their homes, and different patterns and pictures of the nature and environment and animals were reproduced on tush-kiyiz using strings, and later these strings were colored.
Those who embroider enjoy respect in the community because the embroidery patterns are not merely esthetically pleasing but also carry important information about the family, the tribe and are also believed to ward off the evil spirits and protect people from an evil eye.
Back in the day it was impossible to imagine a house not decorated with embroidery. Embroidery is exclusively a female craft. Embroidery showed not only the skills of the women but also her taste and sense of style. Many elements of girl’s dowry are decorated with embroidery. Each part of Kyrgyzstan is famous for their own craftswomen. Embroidery craftswomen were numerous in the southern parts of the country.
Various household and clothing items such as horsecloth, female headwear, collars of shirts, headscarves, scarfs and pillows are decorated with embroidery.
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| Transmission method |
Traditional knowledge has been transmitted from mothers to daughters and in the craftsmen communities |
| Community |
Community of craftspeople, "Altyn Oimok" Public Foundation, Saimaluu tash Art Gallery, Kyrgyz Uz craftsmen cooperative.
Individual craftsmen: Alyi Bekboeva - the first Kyrgyz craftswoman, Jamilya Tynaeva, Tolsun Kokoyeva, Bubuzuura Ajimudinova.
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