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The history of Afghan jewels in 2 great tribes: the Kochi Pashtuns and the Turkmen; stories that link silver, nomads and a lot of tradition.
The Afghan jewels in 2 great tribes
In Afghanistan the art of jewelry is traditionally the prerogative of two different groups, both nomads: the Kuchi Pashtun and the already crossed Turkmen. The two different, albeit similar, types of jewelry are deeply linked to the identity of these two populations, becoming their de facto artistic representation.
Kochi
Nomads of Pashtun ethnicity, they historically deal with pastoralism and derivatives, having always been considered a precious resource for the whole country. It is estimated that, before the war, the Kochis held about 30% of all livestock in the country, becoming essential for the nutrition of the whole of Afghanistan, so much so that they had their own permanent seat in parliament. They are considered by the UN to be one of the Afghan populations most at risk at the moment due to the increasing poverty that their lifestyle entails. With the arrival of modern technologies, in fact, their function becomes more and more obsolete with the passage of time, often making them easy prey for Taliban propaganda.
Their jewels are characterized by an exuberant and extremely rich style, full of both colors and details, very often used during dances.
Turkmen
Semi-nomadic population that populates the north of Afghanistan, also famous for its incredible carpets. Always renowned all over the world for their art, their passion for jewelery has extremely ancient origins and, probably, linked to the love for war, especially for armor. In fact, it seems that the typical “helmeted” decorations for the women who, at the time, accompanied their husbands in war derive from there. Extremely probable theory and which would fully explain the possibility of “combining” the various pieces, to form a real sort of “armor”.
It mainly uses silver and carnelian, gold is almost completely absent. The cover image is by Avizeh, you can find it on facebook and Instagram.
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