Amulet Breastplate (Tumar)

Datefirst half of 20th Century

Object GeographyCentral Asia

MediumSilver, gold, carnelian

DimensionsOVERALL: 15 3/4 × 17 × 1 3/4 in. (40 × 43.2 × 4.4 cm)

ClassificationsMetalwork

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

Object numberSN11187.4

First worn by a woman at her wedding, tumar jewelry is common across all Turkomen tribes, though the decorative elements may vary, as we can see from the nearby examples. The tube portion of this spectacular piece, called bozbend, is hollow, in order to hold written prayers or other sacred objects. A tumar was considered special jewelry, worn for celebrations. The edge of this one is decorated with abstract representations symbolizing Turkomen ancestors. The upper triangle symbolizes an ancestral mountain in Turkomen mythology.

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