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Kiyiz basu - the tradition of making felt
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001109
    Country Kazakhstan
    ICH Domain Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe Traditional craft skills
    Address
    Felt carpets with ornament were spread in Zhetysu and Almaty provinces, Eastern Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Pavlodar provinces. Felt application was specific for some areas in Central and Northern Kazakhstan. In Western Kazakhstan there were mosaic felt carpets.
    Year of Designation 2012
Description 'Kiyiz' is a valuable felt material used by nomads in everyday life since immemorial time. Felt is manufactured from sheep, camel or goat wool by felting. Felt is made from wool using various methods to compress the wool fibers to form a thick, durable and warm material. Felt processing and products remains as one of the most popular crafts in the decorative art of the Kazakhstan steppes and other Central Asian countries. It was the major craft in Kazakh nomadic life as well as a significant work of women. Felt in Kazakhstan used mainly for flooring as a carpet well as covering a yurt. Nowadays one can get also a Kazakh felt souvenir toy. Warm slippers, vests, scarves and much more. Kazakhs used two basic types of felt, which differ in their method of manufacture and function. Kazakhs used coarse felt to cover the yurt and the dirt floor inside. Felt often decorated ornament. There are different methods of ornamentation: applique, ornamental stitch and many others. Skilled workers typically cover the entire surface of the felt track patterns, using a contrasting color. Kiiz is a simple felt carpet made of white, brown or grey wool, used as a foundation for making other products or to cover various parts of the yurt. Syrmak is a floor carpet, made by designing on a basis (kiiz) ornamental aptterns cut out of think multicolor felt which are then adjusted to the basis and sewed with color lace along the contour of the pattern, Tekemet is the Kazakh felt carpet with inserted color pattern on the top of each other before rolling. Different tribes in Kazakhstan each have their designs. Tuzkiiz ia a wall carpet, made by sewing ornamental compositions on felt or solid color fabric like velvet or silk, and then sewing them to the felt basis.
Social and cultural significance 'Kiyiz basu' (felt processing) requires possession of the relevant skills and craftsmanship. Kazakh herders produced woolen products for many centuries. Modern museum exhibits a rich collection of ornamented felt products such as carpets, bags, sacks, household utensils, clothing. Artistic features of the manufacture of felt dependent on their production. The tradition of making felt was widespread among Eurasian nomads and herders in Tibet, Pamir, Altai, the Caucasus, the Balkan Mountains and the Near East.
Transmission method 'Kyiiz basu' (kaz. 'kiiz', 'kigiz', felt) is a tradition passed on from generation to generation.
Community Making felt is a complex manufacturing process, which is traditionally attended by women not only families that creates the felt, but also the inhabitants of the whole village.
Keyword
Information source
Kazakhstan National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage

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