a Camel Trapping

Camel trapping
The Tekke Turkmen of Turkmenistan
19th century
Woven, embroidered, appliquéd and tie-dyed pieces of silk, cotton and wool fabric, hand sewn together and embellished with feathers and hair
246 cm x 224 cm

Full-size camel covers, made from pieces of woven fabric and felt, were used to decorate the animal that carried the bride to her new home - a white yurt erected by the family of the groom, especially for the occasion. The attire covered the camel from nose to tail, with bunches of feathers and horsehair at the head and neck. The garments were made from pieces of the best fabrics, including remnants of luxurious ikat and velvet Uzbek coats, silk Turkmen dresses and kerchiefs, printed Indian and Russian cotton and embroidered felt and leather. Such trappings are remarkable in their complex shapes and vivid colours.

Patchwork, a longstanding tradition in Central Asia, flourished in both nomadic and settled populations. It provided an outlet for creativity and a way to recycle textiles. Turkmen patchwork camel decorations are a striking embodiment of this ancient tradition.

the above image and information was copied from the Textile Museum of Canada's website and is used here with premission.