Hair Ornament (Asyk)

Date1880-1920

Object GeographyCentral Asia

MediumSilver, gold, carnelian

Dimensions7 3/4 x 5 x 1/2 in. (19.7 x 12.7 x 1.3 cm)

ClassificationsMetalwork

Credit LineGift of Mr. Stephen Van C. Wilberding, 2009

Object numberSN11187.1

Given to the bride by the groom's family to wear at the wedding, the purpose of jewelry in the asyk pattern was to encourage fertility, particularly the birth of sons. Therefore, the wearing of asyks could be discontinued after a Turkomen woman gave birth to her first male child. Asyks are generally worn on a woman's braids, which hang down her back after marriage, but in rare instances may be worn as a necklace. The anthropomorphic form, a stylized female womb, has a carnelian at its center, while the upper part of the asyk may represent emerging life. The goza-asyk is a double form.

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