Uzbekistan “Ok Bash"

One more piece from the nice man and his daughter. This bag is hand made in Uzbekistan. It is made of felt and the design embroidered on. They are made in pairs and have a specific function. When the yurt or tent is demounted and the tribe move on to new grazing, the willow wood poles, which are the collapsible framework, are strapped along the back of a camel. The bag is then put over the ends of the poles and this protects the eyes of the following camels. The Uzbek name is “Ok Bash”. The same type of felt - a mixture of poor quality wool and reeds - is used to make the walls of the circular yurt. It is not strong but is heavy and windproof. These pieces are real and authentic examples of tribal weaving and they are not made for commerce as many other weavings are.