Current Exhibit
TALISMANS OF THE TURKOMAN —Traditions of a Warrior Tribe
CORONADO A new exhibit at the Coronado Museum of History & Art will celebrate the Turkoman tribes of Central Asia with a display of rare Turkoman textiles and jewelry. The exhibit, "Talismans of the Turkoman: Traditions of a Warrior Tribe," runs March 14-May 26, 2008.
The early Turkoman tribes ranged from the area east of the Caspian Sea all the way to Afghanistan. This land of steppe and desert was inhospitable to agriculture. Instead, the Turkoman raised large herds of horses, sheep and camels. They supplemented their lifestyle of pastoral nomadism by serving as mobile armies for nearby rulers and making forays into Iran for slaves and booty.
The ancestors of today's Turkoman arrived in Central Asia about the 5th century A.D. During the Medieval Period they captured most of the Byzantine Empire, and laid the foundation for the modern state of Turkey.
The Turkoman who remained within Central Asia continued a nomadic lifestyle in which all a family's possessions — including their lattice work tent yurts -- could be packed onto a few camels to travel to new pastures.
The Turkoman were the most sophisticated carpet weavers and had the most elaborate jewelry tradition within all of Central Asia. In each medium, they created a unique and fully realized style of ornament, an art of great sophistication, sobriety and restraint.
The Turkoman women wore their treasured jewelry and elaborate costumes on a daily basis, adding several pounds of silver, gold and carnelian ornaments to their high headdresses for festive wear.
Turkoman treasures are colorful and beautiful, typical of desert dwellers. Many of their ornaments served as elaborate coverings but also carried a certain talismanic magic.
Urban Central Asian ornamentation features elaborate geometric surface patterns. In contrast, Turkoman ornamentation is characterized by highly abstracted natural forms, featuring rams horns, boars tusks, tulips, frogs, snakes, and a variety of triangular protective images and shapes.
The exhibit contains items ranging in size from small earrings to a large and ornamental camel hanging used in wedding processions. Especially charming are the magical children's garments known as "elek," whose function was to protect the child from "the evil eye."
The exhibit, "Talismans of the Turkoman," is built entirely from a private collection of materials gathered almost forty years ago in Afghanistan. While some of the exhibit items have appeared in international magazines and have previously been exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this is the first time this collection has been on display to the public.
"Talismans of the Turkoman" represents the first of what the Coronado Museum of History & Art hopes will be many exhibits focused on private collections from the community at large.
We are still accepting toys on loan for the exhibit. Also, if you are interested in sponsoring the whole or part of this exhibit please contact Emily Allen at emily@coronadohistory.org or call 619-435-7242. Thank you!
Museum hours: M-F 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Fees: By donation only. Suggested donation for adults is $4, $2 for children.
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