An online exhibition , "Women's bangle of the 19th century" was held in the museum as part of the "Exhibit of the Month" project, devoted to the Nauryz holiday on March 16, 2022 at 12.00
Kazakhs began preparing for Nauryz holiday from time immemorial, with the approach of the vernal equinox. The bright holiday marked the end of the cold weather and the beginning of the renewal of nature. People prepared generous treats for guests, organized folk festivals and games for young people. Women put on their best clothes and jewelry. Clasps, brooches, rings, tress jewelry were designed not only to emphasize the beauty of the outfit, to show the social status of the hostess, but also to protect from the evil eye.
The funds of our museum contain a small collection of traditional Kazakh jewelry including a 19th century silver bangle.
This is a special type of bangle - composite. Its two parts are connected with hinges, and the sash is closed with a silver needle.
It is worth noting that the Kazakh jewelers - zergers carefully guarded the secrets of craftsmanship, passing them by inheritance. Therefore, decorations from different regions of Kazakhstan had their own characteristics.
The bangle from the museum's collection has a pronounced geometric style. Carnelian inserts - ellipse, patterned with grains, tiny balls, made in the form of triangles and rhombuses. Along the edge of the bangles there are decorative filigree overlays, thin silver wires, which only emphasize the correctness and clarity of the lines. Such geometry was common among the masters of Western Kazakhstan.
But there were common features in the jewelry art of the Kazakhs. Jewelry for nomads was not only an indicator of status and wealth, but also a talisman. Every element, every detail carried a sacred meaning. Zergers - jewelers decorated bracelets with a border similar to dragon teeth in order to scare away evil spirits from a woman. The diamond pattern was a wish for fertility.
Even the materials that were used for decorations were chosen with intent. So, according to the Kazakhs, pearls healed the thorn, coral protected from damage, turquoise lured happiness. Carnelian was called the "sun stone", and it was believed that it brings prosperity and joy.
Despite the fact that the zergers knew how to make jewelry from pewter, bronze and gold, silver was their favorite metal. According to the ancestors, silver had magical properties to enhance the beauty of a woman, to protect children and adults from the evil eye, to keep the soul and body pure.
This belief is associated with the characteristic massiveness of many Kazakh silver jewelry, especially bangles. Nomads have always had a problem with drinking water. Most often it had to be taken from reservoirs and rivers. To purify the water, silver jewelry was lowered into it. It was believed that the more precious metal, the faster it was cleared.
Kazakh folk jewelry art goes back thousands of years. The gold items of the Scythians from the Issyk mound, the Usuns from the Kargaly treasure, the Huns from the burial ground near Lake Burabay became the basis on which their own traditions of craftsmanship grew. Today's jewelers continue the work of their ancestors, adapting the special style of Kazakh jewelry to the requirements of modern society.
The opening of the exposition was broadcast live on social networks. The exposition will act for a month.
