 |
|
Woman sorting cocoons in the yurt. Uzbeks. Samarkand region. Early 20th century |
|
|
|
|
| Saddle bag. Uzbeks. Samarkand region. Early 20th century |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Ceramic bowl. Uzbeks. Ferghana region. The City of Rishtan. Early 20th century |
|
|
|
|
| Woman's ornaments. Uzbeks. Khorezm. Early 20th century |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Ceremonial male costume. Uzbeks. Bukhara. Late 19th century |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Teapot and a jug. Uzbeks.Bukhara. Late 19th –early 20th centuries |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Embroidered wall bag. Uzbeks. Samarkand region. Late 19th century |
|
|
|
|
| Sorbet seller. Uzbeks. Early 20th century |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Street barber. Uzbeks. Early 20th century |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Melon salesman in Samarkand. Uzbeks. Early 20th century |
|
|
|
|
Salesman of flat bread. Uzbeks. Early 20th century |
|
|
|
|
Saddle bag. Uzbeks. Samarkand region. Early 20th century |
|
|
|
|
Uzbeks: city and steppes
In early 20 c. Uzbeks were not a united people. They were divided into two groups: sedentary Uzbeks - urban population and residents of the agricultural villages, and cattle-breeders - nomads and semi-nomads who kept on living in tribes and clans. The former called themselves according to the name of the inhabiting territory (Uzbeks of Tashkent, Uzbeks of Kokand, etc); the latter - according to the name of the tribe or clan (Durmen, Lokaits, etc).
One ethnicon - two types of economy
In early 20 c. Uzbeks were not a united people. They were divided into two groups: sedentary Uzbeks - urban population and residents of the agricultural villages, and cattle-breeders - nomads and semi-nomads who kept on living in tribes and clans. The former called themselves according to the name of the inhabiting territory (Uzbeks of Tashkent, Uzbeks of Kokand, etc); the latter - according to the name of the tribe or clan (Durmen, Lokaits, etc).
Crafts of the sedentary Uzbeks
Crafts are the main occupations of the sedentary Uzbeks. In their way of life, occupations, clothes, type of dwelling they are more similar to the Tajiks, with whom they from the ancient times had been living in the agricultural oases, than to the Uzbeks - cattle-breeders who inhabited steppes. Population of the Tajik and Uzbek cities specialized in trade and crafts. Crafts varied and could satisfy almost every economic and household need of the urban population as well as of the villagers. Products of the urban craftsmen were of high artistic value. Patterned silk and cotton textiles, printed fabrics, painted ceramic plates and bowls, wooden items decorated with carving and painting, fine jewelry were very famous in the region and beyond its borders. Artistic crafts were the most developed among the Uzbeks of the Ferghana Valley, Tashkent, Khorezm oasis.
Economy of the nomadic Uzbeks
By early 20 c. there were only few nomadic groups among the Uzbeks. The majority lived semi-sedentary way of life combining cattle-breeding with agriculture. However, their life style was connected with the stock-raising culture. Such domestic activities connected with the processing of the stock-raising products as felt making, patterned weaving using woolen threads were being preserved.
Yurt was the main dwelling of the cattle-breeders, but even if the stationary houses appeared, the yurt was used as a seasonal, especially summer, dwelling or place for the rituals. Textile pieces made mainly by women had a significant place in the yurt's interior. Carpet, weaved or leather bags and sacks, where utensils, clothes and food were being kept, hung on the walls.
Carpet saddle bags in the shape of the suitcase were used for transportation of the things during moving on. Floor which served to the yurt inhabitants as a table and bed was covered with felts and carpets for making it nicer and warmer. The yurt's interior was not only practically organized but it also had close bounds to the symbolic and artistic world of those who lived in it. It was typical for the Uzbeks who preferred stationary houses to the yurt to decorate them with the same objects and in the same way as it was customary to the yurt: bags and sack were hung on the walls, doorway was decorated with the carpet, even the strips for fixing parts of the yurt were placed under the ceiling imitating the dome vault of the yurt.
Bukhara - centre of the gold-embroidery production
Bukhara is the centre of the gold-embroidery production. During several ages sedentary Uzbeks and Tajiks of the valley lived within the borders of the same states where the supreme power belonged to the representatives of the Uzbek tribal union and that contributed to the cultural closeness of these two peoples. The Uzbek Dynasty also ruled the Bukhara Emirate where the majority of the population was Tajiks.
In Bukhara - the capital of the Emirate - some traditionally Tajik crafts were very developed and were aimed only for the Emirate court. Gold-embroidery production was one of these crafts. Men's robes embroidered with golden threads, camisoles, footwear, belts, headdresses, horse clothes and harness were made by the Tajik craftsmen only according to the order of the Emir or his confidants for making presents on solemn and festive occasions.
Emir in his turn also made gifts to the best confidants - gold-embroidered clothes and other valuable things which were in great number stored in the treasury of the palace - Arch. Such things were given as gifts to the ambassadors and governors of the other states including the Royal Family in Russia.
|
