" Nomads and Former Nomads of Central Asia "
Pair of Uk Bash
Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, 19th or 20th Century
Felt, embroidery, and animal hair
56 x 28 cm (22 x 11 in.)
Donna Endres Collection, Austin, TX
|
These objects, known as uk bash, (literally, “tent-strut head” or “cover”), have a simple utilitarian function. The tent strut is the part of the wooden frame that forms the roof and supports the roof felts of a nomad’s tent. The uk bash covered the end of a bundle of struts carried on a camel’s back during migration in order to prevent injury to the eyes of other animals. Although this use was correctly described years ago, it was doubted in some quarters for a lack of documentary evidence. This exhibition and its catalogue mark the first occasion that an image clearly showing how uk bash were used has been exhibited and published
|
| Below - A camel belonging to a Kazakh family on migration, showing how tent strut covers were used. Dzungaria, Western China, late 1980s |
Buy The Exhibtion Catalogue Now!!
Become a Member of the Hajji Baba Club Today
Photography - Don Tuttle
Web Site Design - Thomas Cole