A traditional Kazakh instrument, the dombira. In the
background is a Kazakh felt carpet with a modernized design.
A traditional Kazakh instrument, the dombira. In the
background is a Kazakh felt carpet with a modernized design.
A Kirghiz woman in the traditional dress with the Kirghiz national
instrument,
the komuz.
An Uzbek woman in a Bukharian dress playing the
dutor.
A traditional Mongol instrument, the morin tolughai-tu,
"instrument
with the head of the horse". Characteristic of this instrument is the
horse head, which is connected to the legend of the instrument's
origin.
Close-up of a Kirghiz instrument, the komuz, against a Kirghiz felt
carpet with traditional designs.
An Uzbek instrument, the dutar. In the background is an
embroidered suzana, which functions as wall decoration in
traditional Uzbek homes. The background also shows Uzbek tea cups and
plates.
An Uzbek woman in a Bukharian
dress playing a drum called the
doira.
A Turkmen carpet, hand bag, and qumghan "copper vessel". From the
qumghan, water
poured onto the hands of guests before a meal.
Uzbek skull caps (duppi) placed on Uzbek silk (atlas).
An Uzbek woman embroidering a suzana.
An Uzbek woman embroidering a man's duppi.
An original painting by the Uzbek artist, Shah Mahmoud Muhammad
Jonov, who held an exhibition in Seattle in 1991.
A painting by Shah Mahmoud Muhammad Jonov.
A painting commemorating the millennium of the Kirghiz epic, Manas.
In the front is the hero, Manas. Behind his is a scene of the
inauguration of a Kaghan official. After the election by his people, the
official is placed on a white felt rug. He is lifted up and down by the
people signifying that he had received his power from them and in the same
way they raise him up they can put him down again.
A picture of the same artist, showing Kirghiz women in traditional
dress.
*Special thanks to Ilse Cirtautas, Professor, Near East. Languages & Civilization, for allowing us to photograph her Central Asian artifacts collection.