The semi-nomadic Kungrat and Lakai tribes in Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya have had a beautiful custom since ancient times.
The mother wove a carpet called kiz-gilam (maiden carpet) for her daughter, which was presented for wedding. This carpet was a talisman, symbolizing good wishes and blessing.
The distinctive feature of these items is the bright red ground and the simple embroidery, consisting of rows of octagon medallions, against which an equilateral cross with a diamond at the base and curling horns at the ends, classical for the steppe art, was placed.
Currently, kiz-gilams can be found in many foreign collections. Only a few copies have been preserved in private collections and museums in Uzbekistan.
For more information about the traditions of carpet weaving in Uzbekistan, see the book-album "Carpet making in Uzbekistan: a tradition preserved for centuries".
The general sponsor of the project "Cultural legacy of Uzbekistan in the world collections" is the oilfield services company Eriell Group.