Since they were prepared for a dowry, it is quite natural to call them kiz-gilam - girl's, or bride's carpets.
A kiz-gilam was woven on a narrow loom, from pre-dyed red wool, in separate narrow panels, using the plain weave technique. Later, the finished panels were embroidered with a series of monotypical medallions, kuchkorak (or kaikalak), the most important sacred symbol for all nomadic peoples, which also had a protective meaning.
Perhaps it was an iconic sign for Tengri, the Turkic heavenly god, - any heavenly god in ancient times was depicted in the form of a cross, a classic solar symbol. His symbolic presence was also important for the wedding celebrations - to protect the newlyweds and guarantee a prosperous family life. Finally, the embroidered panels were joined into a single piece.
The kiz-gilam from the Wolfe Collection differs from its likes in the original rectangular blocks between the kuchkorak medallions, made up of rows of triangles closed connected in the vertices.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the USA and Canada (Volume 31. 51-52 pages) from the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections series.
The main sponsor of the project is the oilfield services company Eriell Group.
