We have a vast collection of images here which have been shared over the years ...
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Comments
Dear Lynn; This is a very nice necklace from Tajikistan. Well Done! Peter
Yes, I think I agree with Peter... that these come from Tajikistan. Apparently, they were little known before 1972, the year when refugees from further north began arriving in northern Afghanistan, fleeing the catastrophic drought which occurred between 1970 and 1972. In order to survive, the refugees sold their valuables - necklaces, pendants and earrings - and these became very popular in the shops in Kabul .. so popular that subsequently excellent copies were made to meet the demand. Their provenance can be traced to the highlands in Tajikistan. According to Janata (1981) they are displayed as part of the rich collection of artefacts housed in the National Museum of Tajikistan in Dushanbe .. and have been described by a number of Russian authors writing on Tajik culture: Tolstov (1962), Yersov and Sirokova (1969), Klever (1977), Cvyr (1977) Yersov (1977)
Dear Lynn, I have been wondering why this necklace was called Uzbek.... whether there is any source for the attribution. I have found a necklace worn by Karakalpak women (and therefore, today, of Uzbek nationality) which is slightly similar but not quite the same. Is this the source of the theory? See the following picture: http://www.karakalpak.com/jewellery.html#f
Dear Thelma and Peter, thank you for your comments. Thelma my apologies for the delay in replying, I was extremely busy at work. I love the information and citations you share and I have no doubt that the same or similar necklaces were worn by Tajiks The source of the attribution to Uzbeks as well is from the research of my friend Tribal Heritage on Facebook. Here are some of the photos he has shared:
"Uzbekistan | Old Kungrat woman. Surxondaryo Province, in the extreme south-east of the country || Scanned postcard; photo A. Zueva. Post stamped 2013"
Thanks Lynn. The photo is beautiful and I see the old lady comes from Surxondaro Province in south east Uzbekistan... located just where the present boundaries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan meet. Interesting.