ASIAN TEXTILES - OATG. Oxford Asian Textile Group

11 QARAQALPAQSThe Khorezmian Uzbeks, who lived to the south of the Qaraqalpaqs, used the entire animalas an amulet, tethering a breeding ram in the outside yard next to their dwelling. The enviousglance of a newcomer would naturally fall on the ram, above all upon its powerful horns, therebyneutralizing its evil force. Likewise, the Qaraqalpaqs protected their livestock by erecting a post atthe side of the animal enclosure supporting a pair or horns or a horned skull. Horns weresometimes fastened above the entrance to a house or were carved on the side of a lean-to aywanshelter. They were frequently placed on the side of a mazar (mausoleum), and were part of thefuneral rite, a post or sιrιq being erected on the sepulchral mound with a horn-shaped image at itsupper end and a crescent moon at its apex.Patterns incorporating mu'yiz motifs occur in almost every Qaraqalpaq textile, whetherdepicted boldly or concealed within a border decoration. Of course horn motifs, especially ram'shorn motifs, appear as a common design theme throughout all of the traditional arts and crafts ofCentral Asia. They occur repeatedly in embroidery designs, especially on clothing, and areimportant motifs in Turkmen tribal carpets, Kyrgyz shirdak, and Uzbek koshma felts. Howeverthey seem to be especially dominant in Qaraqalpaq embroideries and weavings.One of the foremost applications was to protect the entrance to the Qaraqalpaq yurt. FirstlyRows of ram's horns (qoshqar mu'yiz) protect the entrance to a yurt at Moynaq from the evil eye