Shyrdak: Large Area Rug in Red Gray with Traditional Kyrgyz Geometric Designs
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
A shyrdak is a Kyrgyz traditional felt handmade rug. It has a long history in Kyrgyz culture. The rug consists of two layers, stitched together by hand to create beautiful quilted patterns. Felt was a popular wool product for Kyrgyz nomads to use to decorate and insulate the yurt, as it was warm in winter and cool in summer. Bring this same comfort into your home.
With this shyrdak area rug, the top side is red gray on a pale gray background, decorated with a colorful trim, and the underside is a natural brown.
FEATURES
Made from 100% sheep wool felt
Length: approx 2 ft 6 inches (80 cm)
Width: approx 2 ft 5 inches (76 cm)
Thickness: approx ¼ inch (8 mm)
Handmade in Kyrgyzstan
We have many more sizes, designs and colors available in our shop, so please take a look at our other listings.
ABOUT SHYRDAK RUGS
The Shyrdak is the traditional Kyrgyz carpet, entirely handmade from sheep’s wool felt. The shyrdak is now featured on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of protection. The knowledge and skills required to make shyrdaks were traditionally passed down from older women to younger women, just as the rugs themselves would be passed down in families. Treated properly, a shyrdak can last more than a lifetime.
The process of making a shyrdak is long and laborious. For generations, women of the community would gather together and work the local sheep wool into colorful felt by hand, then cut out the highly ornamental patterns, and finally stitch all layers together by hand to create the finished product.
Shyrdaks feature a variety of traditional ornamental motifs, all of which are part of a rich, centuries-old tradition and have symbolic meanings. Most motifs are derived from nature, and typically represent animals and plants. Our manufacturing process involves the four elements of nature - water, fire, earth and air - to create a 100% natural product and a piece of living cultural history.
ABOUT US
Welcome to our eBay store!
Uz-Anar is a non-government organization established in 2009 in Kochkor village, Kyrgyzstan. We employ women with limited access to education to use the skills they have honed over years to create felt rugs, such as shyrdak and ala-kiiz.
This way we create sustainable employment opportunities for women in the village while ensuring the endangered art of Kyrgyz rug making is protected.
We hope you enjoy shopping with us!