SAEDNEWS: The Turkmen are considered one of the most artistic and creative ethnic groups in Iran. Their traditional handicrafts and artworks are deeply rooted in the unique history, customs, and cultural traditions of the Turkmen people.
According to Saednews, The Turkmen are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Iran and are mainly settled in Golestan Province. They have a distinctive culture, lifestyle, and set of traditions. The Turkmen people possess a remarkable artistic spirit, which is clearly reflected in their handicrafts. Created with great skill, precision, and delicacy by talented artisans, these crafts represent centuries of culture and civilization in the region. Below are some of the most important traditional handicrafts of Turkmen Sahra.
If you visit Turkmen villages, you will often see women engaged in kilim weaving. Using their unique skills and materials such as wool, silk, and cotton, along with weaving tools including looms, scissors, needles, and rods, Turkmen women create beautiful kilims decorated with a variety of motifs. These include checkerboard patterns, animals, objects, plants, sun motifs, and many other designs.
Turkmen kilims come in different forms, such as small kilims and ensi or door kilims. Kilim weaving is also used to produce a variety of items, including horse covers, storage bags, saddlebags, prayer rugs, doormats, and other traditional household textiles.
Another traditional Turkmen handicraft is the Qarchin, a type of cushion similar to a small carpet. These cushions commonly feature red, golden, and white colors and are produced in different sizes, including half-meter, one-meter, and one-and-a-half-meter varieties. They are sewn into bag-like forms and filled with materials such as cardboard or other padding, then used as backrests while sitting.
Turkmen Sahra cushions are known for their beautiful colors and patterns, including motifs referred to as Golcheh and Qareh Naqsh.
Traditional jewelry is highly popular among both Turkmen women and men. Men traditionally use jewelry to decorate their clothing, while women wear it to enhance their garments and hairstyles. Many Turkmen people have traditionally believed that such ornaments can offer protection against misfortune.
In the past, these pieces were made from precious stones, gold, and silver. Today, brass and German silver are also commonly used. Heavy jewelry featuring local designs and decorative patterns is particularly popular and is considered a symbol of pride, inner strength, and independence among Turkmen women.
The Torba or Tobreh is another traditional Turkmen handicraft and resembles a women's handbag. It may be hung from the walls of a traditional Turkmen home to store personal or kitchen items. Some are also worn around the neck using a woven strap.
Turkmen women traditionally practice embroidery during their leisure time and social gatherings. This delicate and detailed craft is used to decorate hats and various parts of women's and girls' clothing, including collars, cuffs, the front of garments, and the lower parts of trousers.
Palas, known in the Turkmen language as Oy Dimeh, is a traditional woven floor covering similar to a carpet and is generally used as a rug. It is made from wool yarn and has the useful characteristic of resisting the transfer of moisture from the ground, making it especially suitable for rural homes.
The Turkmen hat is an important part of traditional Turkmen clothing and is worn by both men and women. The women's Turkmen hat, known as Anaq, is traditionally associated with married women. It sits on the upper part of the head and creates a raised shape beneath the back of the Turkmen headscarf.
Men's Turkmen hats are traditionally made from white sheep's wool and remain one of the distinctive features of Turkmen dress.
Like other ethnic groups in Iran, the Turkmen have their own traditional clothing. Men's clothing generally includes garments, trousers, hats, and footwear. One of the traditional men's garments is the Don, a long robe extending below the knees that was traditionally made of silk. The Qizil Don is completely red, while the Qarma Don has a yellowish tone.
In the past, Turkmen women commonly wore silk dresses, many of which were raspberry red and sometimes had a glossy appearance. This garment was known as the Qirmiz Koynek. Traditional Turkmen clothing is richly decorated with distinctive motifs and patterns.
Carpet and rug weaving are among the most important Turkmen arts and handicrafts, traditionally practiced mainly by Turkmen women. Carpet weaving is not only an artistic tradition but has also been an important source of livelihood for many Turkmen families.
Turkmen carpets and rugs are characterized by Turkish-style knots and traditional floral motifs, with many patterns representing specific tribal identities. Their distinctive geometric designs often reflect significant events and experiences in Turkmen history, including war, victory, migration, and other changes in their way of life.
Silk weaving is one of the most beautiful traditional crafts of the Turkmen people and has been practiced in the region for centuries. Turkmen artisans traditionally obtain silk from silkworm cocoons and use it to produce silk scarves, carpets, towels, rugs, and various silk fabrics.
These colorful fabrics are also used in traditional clothing and can be found throughout Turkmen communities.
Another important Turkmen textile art is the weaving of a high-quality fabric known as Keteni. Due to its durability and quality, this fabric has traditionally been used for making special garments, including bridal clothing.
Wooden household items are another important part of Turkmen traditional craftsmanship. A variety of wooden tools and utensils have traditionally been used in Turkmen homes, reflecting the practical skills and daily lifestyle of the community.
Felt is one of the simplest forms of floor covering and an important traditional craft associated with the Turkmen people. It is made by skilled felt makers using traditional techniques.
Although felt is no longer used as widely as in the past for covering floors, tents, horses, and saddles, it continues to hold cultural importance. Today, it is often displayed at handicraft exhibitions and is also widely used for items such as prayer mats.
