Object
Er tokum
Эр токум
Saddle. An item on which the craftsman spent more carving than on anything else in the house — because it was seen most often.
What is it
The wooden frame of the saddle was carved from birch, covered with leather, decorated with carvings, silver and embossing, and a felt saddle pad was placed underneath. The saddle outlived the horse and was passed on.
Why it is here
Saddles and horse harness are the part of everyday life where the ornament served as a business card: a person was seen on horseback before being seen up close. Hence the large, readable from a distance motifs — and a useful rule for a modern product: the pattern must be recognizable from the distance at which the item is usually viewed.
Words
- Эр токум · er tokum
- Седло
- Тердик · terdik
- Войлочный потник под седло
- Жүгөн · jugon
- Уздечка
Motifs in this article
Source: Хегай А., Кыргызский орнамент: семантика и эстетика, 2025 · Народное декоративно-прикладное искусство киргизов, 1968, Труды Киргизской археолого-этнографической экспедиции