The mystery of ancient jewelry and national clothes of the Sakha. Types of Yakut ornaments Yakut talismans and amulets

By and large, little is known about Yakut jewelry. Although there are references to Yakut metal products starting from the earliest written sources of travelers and discoverers of the Lena Territory, in the ethnographic literature of pre-revolutionary Yakutia, information about them is largely fragmentary and fragmentary.

In general, as Savvinov Anatoly Ivanovich writes in his works “Traditional metal jewelry of the Yakuts of the 19th - early 20th centuries: Historical and ethnographic research”, Yakut jewelry is distinguished by archaic forms, original design and artistic style. A characteristic feature is the strict ensemble of forms, solemnity. Yakut earrings were mainly of three types: beaded earrings (tuorakh ytar5a), hoop earrings (koloosko ytar5a), earrings with a pendant (tugehteeh ytar5a). Traditional Yakut earrings were usually made of silver, like all jewelry, usually of low quality. Unlike the Central Asian and other peoples, the Yakut traditional earrings did not have inserts of colored stones.

Before the influence of Russian culture, Yakut earrings were wire in the form of a question mark, - Kapitolina Yakovleva, associate professor of the department, told us world history and Ethnology of the Faculty of History of NEFU, Candidate of Historical Sciences. - They often came with black, white and blue beads. But such earrings were also common throughout Eurasia. In Siberia, Altaians, Khakasses, Tuvans had such decorations. Women wore such earrings, two or three in each ear. Unfortunately, our researchers do not write that this meant something in the Yakut culture. But, for example, among the peoples of the Amur, this was of particular importance, up to whether a woman had children. By the way, they also had earrings in their nose, which meant that the woman was childless.

Later, such Yakut earrings begin to become more complicated, the beads are replaced by hollow pendants. They could even be coins. Then a lot of different forms appeared. The researchers write that there are more than 30 options. Flower earrings, bells, Christmas trees, ciel, khankha, etc. It is believed that the traditional form of Yakut earrings is a lyre-shaped figure, consisting of two mirror-shaped S-shaped shapes. In everyday life, we used to call her "in the form of a woman."

It is worth noting that many people associate jewelry of this form with amulets under the auspices of the goddesses of fertility, love of children, the guardians of nature and motherhood - Ieyehsit and Ayyysyt. It is known that in the Yakut culture this form represents the feminine, and the pendants in the middle and below - children. The lyre-shaped ornament is suitable for young girls, for married women and brides. If we consider the history of the emergence of the very form of the lyre, then it is quite controversial. There are many assumptions about the origin, semantics of the ornamental motif. In general, the traditional composition of the Yakut ornament is original, although it is not difficult to detect individual elements in it. oriental styles and characteristic motifs of Russian folk art. It is now that we see a woman, and researchers say that lyre-shaped earrings came to Yakut culture under the influence of Russian culture.

In the old days in Rus' there were such Russian earrings called "stuffed cabbage". Their form consisted of images of two birds connected and looking in different directions. According to one version, it was these “stuffed cabbage rolls” that formed the shape of the lyre. By the way, the Tatars have the same decorations. They call such earrings “Russian earrings”. But the Tatars call them not lyre-shaped, but almond-shaped. Altaians have the same decorations. Their earrings are one to one similar to the Yakut ones, but if ours are made entirely of metal, then they have bead pendants, - says Kapitolina Maksimovna.

The Yakuts have a number of beliefs and customs associated with the use of metal jewelry. In addition to the well-known lyre-shaped form, which means fertility, patterns in the form of deer and Siberian Cranes are also used in modern times. So, for example, deer is the spirit of the forest and the protector of nature in Yakut mythology. Decoration with it personifies the inextricable connection between man and nature, nobility, grandeur and grace.

Also, the earrings with the figure of Siberian Cranes can be most often found on young girls. Jewelry with them means purity and freedom. Silver earrings with dancing Siberian Cranes are designed to protect women's happiness. It is believed that they must be necessarily paired and should not be separated in any case, so as not to destroy family life.

There is also an opinion about Yakut earrings that the number of pendants below symbolizes the future offspring of a woman. That is, how many pendants - so many children a young girl wants to have. But there is another version, according to which, these are not future offspring, but already born.

All these interpretations, I think, people come up with themselves. Culture tends to change, enrich itself. The meaning of the symbolism always changes. Jewelry dictates and declares the owner's behavior, and also influences the consciousness of others, organizing, in turn, their behavior, - Kapitolina Yakovleva believes.

At present, as a rule, they do not wear antique jewelry, with the exception of some of their types. Basically, somewhat modified, modernized silver and gold jewelry in national style. Real 100% traditional jewelry is kept in museums. In modern realities, they are difficult to wear not only because of the look, but also because of the weight. Now modern masters make lightweight versions, adding their imagination to traditional forms. But nevertheless keeping the main motives.

Evdokia SAMSONOVA

The material was prepared using the materials of the dissertation of the candidate of historical sciences Savvinov A.I. "Traditional metal jewelry of the Yakuts of the 19th - early 20th centuries: Historical and ethnographic research"

The purpose of this work is the production of souvenirs-amulets from precious metals and stones. In the course of the work, the following tasks were set: - study of the meanings of the Yakut patterns and ornaments and their applications; - study of amulets and their meanings; - creation of sketches of souvenirs - amulets. Every nation in its culture has certain different kinds ornaments, and to pass it on from generation to generation brings it into everyday life. Thus, numerous patterns, ornaments made in jewelry, dishes, clothes, etc. have been preserved in our life. At present, there is a great demand on the market for goods with a national flavor, and in order to satisfy the demand of the population, manufacturers in some cases do not understanding the meanings of ornaments, they make various types of goods. But each pattern, ornament has its own meaning. And knowing it in our time is very important, but people do not attach importance to what they mean and where they should be used. For example: the correct arrangement of patterns, mixing different types of ornaments, etc. Ornaments can be used not only for beauty, but also as a talisman to protect against evil spirits, according to the culture of the Sakha people. Based on this, we began work on the manufacture of souvenirs-amulets from precious metals and stones. hallmark of our precious metal souvenirs is the intelligibility of the presentation of the design. All souvenirs are closely related to the meanings of ornaments and amulets. The basis of souvenirs are Yakut patterns and symbols, and the final detail is a round amulet (the personification of the sun) with certain meanings. Thus, we drew a series of sketches, which in the future will be made of precious metals. The series consists of souvenirs: “A5a Kharyskhal” (souvenir-amulet for men), “Iye Kharyskhal” (souvenir-souvenir for women), “O5o Kharyskhal” (souvenir-amulet for children), everyday life), "BaayKharyskhal" (souvenir-amulet for wealth), "Utue Kharyskhal" (souvenir-amulet of kindness). Fig 1. a) drawing of the souvenir-amulet "Iye Kharysal"; b) a series of sketches of amulets-souvenirs In our republic, souvenir production in the jewelry industry is underdeveloped, although the demand for national Yakut souvenirs is huge. But there is jewelry factories, which produce bronze souvenirs, for example, the Gold of Yakutia campaign made a set of chess from bronze and natural stones, where souvenirs with images of Olonkho characters play the role of figures. There are also individual entrepreneurs who make souvenirs from clay, ceramics and wood. And thus, we set a goal in the future, the production of souvenirs from precious metals. And the national Yakut patterns that we used in the sketches, bearing the symbols of the Sakha people, gave our sketches a deeper meaning and meaning. Since, since ancient times, for the people of Sakha, each pattern, ornament had and has a certain meaning. As a result, our souvenirs acquire the function of the “kharyskhal” amulet, which will allow the culture of the Sakha people to perpetuate patterns and ornaments without losing their meaning and meaning.

The people of Yakutia number almost half a million people. They live on the territory of the Republic of Sakha, in the Irkutsk and Magadan regions, Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk regions. This people still honors traditions, preserves them and passes them on to their descendants. Talismans occupy most of the culture: details national costume, hats, jewelry, household items. The meaning of the Yakut amulets and their types will be discussed.

The Yakuts are close to nature, they live in harmony with it, obey its laws, treat the power of the elements with awe and respect. Almost all the talismans that the Yakuts use are made of natural materials. These include:

bones, fangs, claws and skins of animals;
silver jewelry;
wooden miniatures of household items;
stones;
ornaments embroidered with beads or thread.

Magic items protected from the evil eye, damage, spirits, from the influence of the elements, preserved health, and attracted good luck.

Ethnographers are most interested in the Yakut Jewelry and patterns, because they protect and carry information about the status, social role of a person, well-being, desires. For example, choron, a Yakut vessel for koumiss, is used in deity worship and blessing. Decorations are applied to it depending on the request made to the gods. The role of inheritance of amulets is important. The older they were, the higher the power. Nyurba resident says:

“When I was little, my grandmother had silver earrings with 3 rows of pendants. Grandma was very fond of them. And now I myself am a grandmother and wear her earring. The girls very rarely put on all the jewelry - only for the wedding and Ysyakh. On Ysyakh, jewelry determined the position of a girl in society. Then they were very expensive, not every girl could afford them. Since my youth, Yakut products have changed a lot. Previously, there were only plates and engravings on them. I think it shows the cultural development of the people."

Ornaments are applied to Yakut clothes to protect against evil forces, therefore, embroidery is used to decorate the weakest places through which spirits can penetrate: hem, sleeves, collar, belt, spine.

The main motives are vegetable, suitable for everyone, symbolize development and fertility. When choosing a pattern, you need to consider the following features:

the lyre-shaped ornament is not suitable for girls and grandmothers;
a sprout of a plant for small children, a bud for older boys and girls, blooming flowers for older ones;
the ornament had to go up, not down.

Men's clothes were traditionally decorated with five rhombuses combined into one. It is a symbol of perfection, a combination of five elements: water, air, wood, fire, metal. In the center of the rhombus, a circle is the feminine principle, since a man is inseparable from a woman.

Another traditional motif resembles, but with three divisions. It symbolizes three souls: mother, earth, air.

Metal products were put on the locations of the main chakras or amulets were hemmed. This is the solar plexus, forehead, hips, belt, heart area. For example, from the inside, opposite the heart, the muzzle of a small animal was hemmed. A metal plate was placed on the hats in the center of the forehead.

Talismans were originally made from any metal, this was done by blacksmiths. They were revered on a par with shamans. Wealthy families had their own personal master.

Later they began to be made exclusively from silver, gold was not used. Silver has cleansing power and drives away spirits.

The wedding dress stands out in particular, because the bride is the successor of the family, the well-being of the family and the health of children depend on her. Every detail mattered. Most of them drove away evil spirits and the evil eye, the other side was aimed at strengthening the reproductive function.

The wedding dress consists of the following fragments:

headdress;
earrings;
chest set;
dorsal set;
bracelets.

The weight of the decoration could reach tens of kilograms. The dowry was prepared from the very birth of the daughter, making one piece of the costume per year. By adulthood, a full dress accumulated.

Everyday products were more modest. The main types include:

Earrings. They started wearing them from the age of five. The shape of the earrings resembled the figure of a girl, and the details were a message to others, informing about the status of their owner. For example, girls wore flat solid figures. A hole in the center indicated a married status. Earrings in the form of a lyre with pendants were worn by women with many children. An aging woman takes off her pendants and passes them on to her granddaughter as a sign of procreation.
Bracelets. In addition to protective functions, they have a practical one. Bracelets fasten the sleeves of clothes, keeping out the cold.
Belt. He did not allow the spirits to penetrate the body, so only shamans could go unbelted. Adults richly embroidered belts with ornaments, and children girded themselves with a rope.

Men, women and children used different talismans, as their social functions differed.

Amulets for children

It is customary to protect the child even before birth. The moment of birth is especially dangerous, when evil spirits can harm the baby and mother, so childbirth was accompanied by numerous talismans that save the baby's life and alleviate the mother's suffering.

The patroness of fertility, protecting the woman in labor - Aiyysyt. She was symbolized by the skin of a hare. Earrings were threaded through the eye sockets, and earrings were put into the ears. During childbirth, the skin was generously cajoled.

Earrings, a bit, a whip were hung over the bed of a woman in labor to reduce pain and for a successful outcome. A circle was circled around the bed with a birch stick, since the spirit of the hostess of the area is in the birch, not one representative of the other world will be able to intercede for such a line.

After the baby was born, a knife was stuck into the stick held by the woman if a boy was born or scissors if a girl was born.

In the first year of life, a baby cannot yet resist evil on its own, so the abaasyt soul eaters hunt for it. They were driven away by tying a knife in a sheath, a flint, a hatchet, a bear's paw, a sable skull to the sides of the crib.

Rings, metal plates and other ringing objects were sewn onto the blanket. A child who began to crawl and walk on his back was tied with a bell. By ringing, he cleared the room of bad energy, scared away the spirits and informed the mother where the baby was.

For a good sleep, a hare's foot was sewn into the corner of the pillow.

From infancy until the end of his life, a person kept a bag made of taimen skin “Ogo kuta”. It contained 10 knots from the umbilical cord and hair. It is the focus of the life force.

Grown up children wore earrings, pendants, metal plaques with drawings and beads. The traditional amulet for a boy is a bow and arrow. This is the concentration of the masculine principle, the moral and physical qualities of the future man.

Women's talismans

They are aimed at maintaining health, strengthening the family, developing intuition.

For relax breastfeeding used smooth in the form of a funnel in the center. It was customary to express milk through it.

The girl, setting out on her journey, made with her own hands an amulet out of bear hair, resembling a brush - moonnyoh. It was hung around the horse's neck to clear the way of spirits.

The girl made a whip out of willow branches, decorating it with figurines of bone and silver. A bell was hung on the end of the rod. After the birth of the baby, the whip was hung over the cradle.

A silver plaque was put on the hats - tuosakhta, symbolizing the sun. One of its meanings is protection from smallpox.

As jewelry, the girls wore earrings, rings and bracelets. When walking, the decoration should tinkle so that evil does not approach.

In addition to the hat, the protective headdress of the basting is a hoop. The plaques on it covered the vulnerable parts: forehead and temples.

Men's amulets

The men wore almost no jewelry. Embroidery and parts of animals were used as talismans: heads, paws, claws, teeth, bones. It was believed that the qualities of the killed animal are transferred to the hunter who killed him. In addition, the Yakuts chose a totem animal for themselves. They associated themselves with him, adopting properties, and were protected.

They helped to track down and kill prey on the hunt, remaining invulnerable. The fur of a wolf or a bear was also considered a disease.

Another is a nose necklace. In this part of the body, the animal had a soul, so the Yakuts collected the noses of small animals in bundles: sables, arctic foxes, foxes to attract good luck.

For a successful hunt, a talisman made of the skin, antler and jaw of a deer was used. This package contains the spirit of the patron of animals and hunting.

The most powerful talisman is the sat stone. It was found in places where lightning struck, and it was also born by itself inside a horse, bull, bear, dog or wolf. They recognize him by his appearance. Sata resembles a reduced human head where eyes, nose, mouth, ears are distinguishable. This stone is alive. So that the stone does not die, a girl should not touch it, a stranger should not look at it, and the stone should not remain naked. It was customary to keep the amulet wrapped in the wool of the animal that gave birth to it away from home. With the help of sat, the Yakuts changed the weather or tied it to a horse during a trip so that it would not sweat, and the gadflies would not pester it.

Modern amulets in Yakutia

Studies show that most Yakuts believe in the power of amulets and many keep them at home. True, many of them are gone. Most often found:

crockery and household utensils with ornaments;
embroidery on national clothes;
drawings of animals;
bear paws;
precious items.

The last type of amulet is especially interesting. The motives remain the same: a lyre, a female figure, a floral ornament. But jewelry has become refined, openwork and not so massive. Silver is being replaced by gold and precious stones.

Experts warn that there are many Chinese fakes on the market for Yakut products. They are cheaper, but do not carry spiritual value and protective value. After a few generations, they will lose their beauty and value. It is better to give preference to traditional Yakut masters who are familiar with the history, culture and traditions of the people.

From the second part of the publication you will learn about bracelets, belts, neck jewelry, as well as nice little things like needle beds, earpicks, tweezers, glamorous silver snow glasses and much more. For example, about happar - a clutch decorated with silver.

"Iceberg"

The first part of the material on Yakut jewelry can be read.

Yakut jewelry: neck jewelry

In the past, the Yakuts had a widespread neck decoration - a necklace. (habarga simege, my simege, begeh).

The first two Yakut names mean the same thing - "neck decoration", and the word "bөҕөх" translated as "wrist", "bracelet". According to the nature of the ornament and the shape of the convex girdles, such an ornament really very much resembles a bracelet. Both of these adornments - both neck, such as a necklace, and a bracelet - are made of a silver plate in the form of a truncated cone. Accordingly, the necklace has a diameter of about 12-14 cm, the bracelet is about 6-8 cm. The number of convex belts in the bracelet is usually 3-4 and 5, and in the necklace most often - 3. The width of the bracelet reaches from 5 to 7.5 cm, at the necklace - from 3.5 cm to 4 cm. The necklace, like the bracelet, is fastened with curved clasps.

These decorations were worn on especially solemn occasions - at holidays, weddings.

From archaeological excavations, bracelets exclusively made of bronze dating back to the middle of the 18th century are known. In one female burial, a bracelet made of birch bark was found, which is dated by the authors of the report to the beginning of the 18th century. The shape and dimensions of this bracelet are identical to the silver bracelets of the 19th century. In the middle part, the bracelet is decorated with an indented mesh ornament, surrounded by one row of circles. Along the upper edge of the bracelet, two parallel thin rims made of willow have been preserved. The rims are stitched with hair threads with a cross stitch. In addition, there is evidence that the necklace was made of birch bark. (Troev P., Berezkin I. Bracelets from ... birch bark. - Gas. "Social. Yakutia", 1971, May 20).

Bracelet (bөҕөх). Instagram @pk_kyyha

The neck ornament or necklace was not found during excavations, which indicates its recent origin. Judging by the fact that the necklace does not have its own name among the Yakuts (it is called bөҕөх, i.e. bracelet), it can be assumed that it was created by Yakut jewelers on the model of a bracelet.

Yakut jewelry: braids, ilin-kelin kebiher

Before marriage, Yakut girls adorned their hair with a braid or suhuoh simege. It consists of silver or copper trapezoid plates with three rows of pendants and beads. At the end, semicircular cups are strengthened (chopchu) with thread tassels. The decoration is tied with a ribbon to the braids under the back of the head. It reaches a length of up to 24-26 cm. In contrast to the type described above, the braids of the Vilyui Yakuts were less magnificent. The braids were tightly tied with a suede ribbon, an ornamented trapezoid plate was attached just below the back of the head, and 3-4 small plates were even lower.

Braid. Instagram @pk_kyyha

The braids of the central regions of Yakutia are similar to those of the Kyrgyz "chach ushtuk", but differ in a large number of plates and semicircular cups, instead of round pendants.

If the Yakut girls adorned their hair before marriage, then among other peoples related to the Yakuts: among the Kyrgyz - chach usto to, among the Tuvans - chabaga, among the Bashkirs - kashmau intended for married women. It should be noted that among the Tuvans, the basis of the decoration was a trapezoidal silver plate.

The Yakuts had a custom to hide their hair from strangers.

In connection with the braid, another Yakut back decoration should be mentioned - calin kebiher. This is a silver engraved plate in the form of a trapezoid, hung on straps to the back of the head of the basty's headband or to the back of the hryvnia. 4 or 8 openwork silver chains are suspended from the bottom of the plates. This decoration was one of the wedding dresses of wealthy families and was distributed everywhere. R.K. Maak, who visited the Vilyui uluses, called this decoration the braid of married women and described wearing it as follows: “to the back of the hoop (hryvnia - F.Z.) is attached ... a braid tied to a braid. But one decoration cannot be hung in two places (to the hryvnia and to the braid). Apparently, it was tied either to the hryvnia or to the spit.

The fact that the Yakuts had a custom to hide their hair from strangers was noted by Seroshevsky: “during the wedding, the bride’s sister diligently covers her head all the time, since it is considered a great sin that the groom or one of his travellers saw her hair” . “It is shameful for daughters-in-law to show uncovered hair and legs from above to their father-in-law and brothers-in-law.”

Possibly decoration. calin kebiher once it was intended to cover the hair of the bride, but due to the partial loss of this custom, the decoration began to be tied to the hryvnia.

Women's breast decoration (ilin kebiher). Instagram @pk_kyyha

A pectoral was hung from the front of the hryvnia. ilin kebiher. It is usually shorter and wider than the back decoration and in some cases consists of 12 rows of openwork chains. A circle decorated with engraving was attached to the upper trapezoidal plate, from which silver chains also fell.

From the boss (bastyga) a whole system of long chains of silver openwork chains and plates that make up its links fell down in a very complex and beautiful pattern. The central rows of chains, descending to the chest, ended either with a large round silver plaque. kun(sun), richly painted with engraved, sometimes blackened ornament, or silver figured pendants. According to M.M. Nosov, this decoration existed in the central regions until the end of the 19th century.

R.K. Maak, who described in detail the clothing and external attire of the Vilyui Yakuts, does not mention such decoration, which indicates its loss or, possibly, its absence altogether.

Decoration "kun" worn over a dress haladaai or camisole.

On the children's costume from archaeological excavations, instead of a silver plaque “kun”, a bronze or silver-plated cast figurine of a lion was found, which apparently served as an amulet.

Yakut jewelry: hryvnia

One of the most time-resistant Yakut ornaments is the hryvnia. (kyldyy). The hryvnia is a silver hoop (among the early forms there are also copper ones) with a smooth, engraved or twisted surface with open ends. In Yakutia, hryvnias existed until the beginning of the 20th century. There were three types of hryvnias: with loop-like bends in the middle part; flat with engraved surface; round with twisted relief. I.V. Konstantinov considers the last type of hryvnia to be the most archaic, and the other two types are later.

Archaic hryvnia (kyldyy). Instagram @pk_kyyha

As a type of decoration, Yakut torcs in the 18th century were a female attribute of the outfit, however, even earlier a torc was discovered in a male burial dating from the 17th century.

In the past, such decorations were common among the population of Central Asia, Altai, and the Baikal region, and, apparently, the Yakut grivnas are genetically related to them.

Yakut jewelry: belts and other jewelry

dressy belt (hens) worn by men and women on solemn occasions, it was an accessory of the wealthy stratum of the population. There were belts with round, quadrangular plates (sirey chickens), with curly openwork plaques of smaller sizes ( harah chickens or sunnүөh kur). The latter, in most cases, belonged to women.

Men's typesetting belt. Such belts were worn by men on solemn occasions. Instagram @history_of_yakutia

Belts similar to sirey were found among the Western Buryats. Unlike the Yakut ones, the plates of the Buryat belts were not decorated with engraving; four-petal plaques of about 5-6 pieces were placed vertically between the plates. (Petri B.E. Ornament of the Kudinsky Buryats. - “Collection of Musical Anthropology and Ethnography”. T. 5, 1918, issue 1, fig. 3). Belts "harah" ("sunnүөh") are similar to the belts of stone statues of Southern Siberia. The Yakut belts were decorated, like the belts on the stone sculptures of Tuva, with heart-shaped plaques. (Evtyukhova L.A. Stone sculptures of Southern Siberia and Mongolia. - “Materials and research in archeology”, No. 24, M., 1952, Appendix No. 2).

Among modern peoples, Bashkirs wore belts decorated with silver (kamar), Kyrgyz (kemer). Unlike the Yakut ones, these belts were also decorated with semi-precious stones like agate, carnelian, turquoise, etc.

Elegant Yakut type-setting belt. This belt was an indispensable element of the wedding women's clothing. The large size of such a belt is determined by the fact that it was worn over a fur coat. Women attached a hip adornment өtүk simeҕe on the sides (pictured below). Instagram @history_of_yakutia

Name of the Yakut belt - chickens similarly with Khakass - khur, Tuvan - chickens, Kyrgyz - chickens(the latter have other names for the belts - ilgich, kemer). Among the Buryats and Mongols, the belt is called - beads.

Ottuk simege is an addition to the costume, which is a set of various decorative and utilitarian pendants. Traditionally, they were attached to the belt. Instagram @history_of_yakutia

Yakut women hung various small items from their belts: a handbag decorated with silver plaques ( happar) made of silver earpick (kulgaah hastar), tweezers (iskeh), needle case (innelik) mostly copper. Smoking women still carried pipes (anchovy) and a flint and flint adorned with silver (hatat).

Suspension to the belt (өtүk simege). Detail. Instagram @pk_kyyha

Tweezers, ear cleaners were used by the Kirghiz, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking peoples of North Asia. Ear cleaners (kopoushki) were widespread in the 18th century in Russia and were "an indispensable part of toiletries." In appearance and engraving, they are more similar to the Buryat ones. Women's flint, as well as men's, with the same name existed among the Buryats (hete). The latter differed only in size (up to 20 cm long) and richer decoration. Until the 30s of the twentieth century, the Yakuts had smoking pipes (anchovy) with a long wooden mouthpiece and a small silver or copper tobacco cup. Exactly such pipes were found among Tuvans in the 17th-19th centuries.

Women's amulet (sahyl tumsa). There is evidence that it served as a talisman for a pregnant woman. The amulet was worn with the rest of the pendants on the belt. Instagram @pk_kyyha

Before the revolution, wealthy Yakuts, protecting their eyes from the bright sun, wore snow goggles. (khaar achykyta). Such glasses are a silver plate, as well as bone, with narrow horizontal cutouts for the eyes.

The Yakuts adorned the sheaths, handles of knives and fans with silver. Buttons, personal seals and women's combs were cast from silver.

More than half a ton of silver were handed over by women to the defense fund during the Great Patriotic War. Among them, a large proportion were locally produced items, including masterpieces of Yakut jewelry art.

Some species jewelry have not survived to this day. There are very few silver items with enamel and gilding. It was not possible to find samples of gold jewelry - such as rings, earrings and bracelets, often mentioned in the works of V.L. Seroshevsky. Apparently, these works could be generally small.

More than half a ton of silver, which is several thousand large and small items, were handed over by women to the defense fund during the Great Patriotic War. Among them, a large proportion were items of local production, including masterpieces of the Yakut jewelry art.

Linear ornament. This ornament, found during archaeological excavations, was widely used in the old days in the ornamentation of household items. And therefore, to the question: "when did the type of this drawing appear?" impossible to answer. Starting with clay pots, the pattern spread to birch bark, wood, clothes, and metal. Despite the fact that it is used as a separate pattern, it is widely used to separate, decorate other patterns. The length reaches from 1-2 mm to 30 mm. Depending on the material of manufacture, knives, saws, semicircular chisels of various sizes, and files are used. It is easy to draw, therefore it is widely distributed.

Ribbed pattern, ornament in the form of herbs. According to some informants, this ornament is also called "comb". But it will take time to finally explain this name. In the old days it meant grace, harvest. It was used to decorate choron trays, for the middle frill of kytyi, and for others. The name of this group of ornaments comes from the seams of birch bark dishes and is called "ribbed pattern". The place of manufacture is marked with a "linear ornament" along the tree and semicircular chisels of various sizes are used. The height of the product, a variety of quantities, all kinds of interlacing of different patterns are divided into many groups. In all uluses of Yakutia it has an even distribution.

Ornament in the form of oblique lines. It is rarely found in the fragments of pottery among the peoples of the North. Later it develops in the production of birch bark dishes, in clothing, and is widely used on wood. This ornament is widely used in the drawings of kytyi, kytakh. For example, it is found in the outer seams of the kytyi and in copper rims.

Ornament in the form of the sky (herringbone). Type "herringbone", which was widespread in the old days in sewing clothes. But as an ornament in the form of "oblique lines", it was not widely used on wood. But still, this ornament is found in the XVIII-XIX centuries. in products for drinking koumiss, on a whorl for koumiss, in khamyakh, in a funnel for koumiss. Although the ornament did not play with all the colors of the rainbow, as on clothes, it was deeply registered on the tree. Among the peoples of the North, it is known as the Christmas tree ornament. In the old days it was used for sewing.

Broken lines (type of urasa). The "broken lines" ornament is taken from a seam of birch bark utensils. This is a geometric ornament with a long history. It is constantly found in the ornaments of the peoples of Siberia. This pattern was used in dishes and utensils of the Yakuts of the 18th century. Intertwined with other ornaments, it became the main pattern for wood.

Ornament in the form of a network. The appearance of this geometric pattern is not precisely established. In Yakut wooden products, this ornament is borrowed from the seams of birch bark dishes. The view of this drawing is divided into many groups according to content and has different names.

We can safely say that the type of "net" for the Yakuts was one of the most favorite ornaments.

Ornament in the form of raspberries, trimmings and nails. These ornaments are included in the "arched" group. For the Yakuts, it is known as an ornament in the form of "raspberries", "nails". In the old days, after making pottery, it was pressed with a finger or cut out when wet.

This type of ornament was first used in decorating dishes for koumiss, for serge, and then from the middle of the 19th century it was used to decorate the lid of a sewing box.

Ornament in the form of a cow. From here begins a group of ornaments similar to a children's birch bark toy in the form of a cow. From the 18th century, it began to spread widely to wooden products. The 19th century can be considered the period of the widest distribution.

Heart-shaped ornament. Ornaments in the form of a heart, which were widely used in the ornamentation of clothes, birch bark dishes. In wooden products, chorons, on a funnel for koumiss can be seen in the 19th-20th centuries.

Ornaments in the form of ram's horns. Ornaments do not have a special Yakut name. Such ornaments are depicted in gold items of the 19th century. The ornament is known to the Turkic peoples as an ornament in the form of "ram's horns". They have ancient roots, rich content. Yakut wood craftsmen widely used them in their products and, without losing the main meaning of the pattern, enriched appearance. This ornament was not used in dishes for koumiss and dairy products.

Lyre ornament. The group under the symbolic name "lyre-shaped" ("koger") begins with this ornament. Widely distributed among the indigenous population of Siberia, Central Asia. Specialists in the study of ornament introduce them into the lyre-shaped group. Without losing its original origin, the drawing is widespread to this day. Drawing is widespread in places where horse breeding is developed. Therefore, it is the main pattern in saddlecloths, kychym. The name and appearance are similar to koumiss dishes "koger". F.M. Zykov talks about this in his article "Lyre-shaped motif in the Yakut ornament". Therefore, the ornament should be called "koger oyuu", and not "kosyur oyuu", as according to M.M. Nosov.

Scrollwork. Ornaments with an "s"-shaped element have the same roots as "koger-oyuu". They were widely used in wooden utensils, in household items in the 19th century. This ornament is called a scroll ornament. It is the main pattern of the chest and back of women's jewelry. One type is used repeatedly and therefore became an element.

Vegetable escape. A group of these ornaments is deeply inscribed in the material culture of the Yakut people. In museums, you can see a lot of dishes, clothes, horse accessories, decorated with these ornaments.

Ants ornament. Not widely distributed on the tree. It was mainly used in decorating utensils and household items in the 19th-20th centuries. Since ancient times, it has been known as a pattern for clothes, horse accessories.

Plant drawing. These ornaments were almost not used in the old days in wood products, they were not widely developed. Mainly painted on different types chests, in boxes for women's jewelry.

Drawing in the form of flowers."Flower drawing" is found in wooden products, in the 19th-20th centuries. A simple view of a flower with four petals in the 19th century. used in blackened chests, in boxes for small accessories. In the chorons of the end of the 19th century, instead of the "tonogos" ornament, "flower drawings" were used, which is a violation of the tradition of ornamentation of the Yakut wooden utensils.

Ornament in the form of the sun. The drawing of the sun, whorl, disk is called. This ornament has been preserved by almost all peoples of the globe from the Stone Age to this day. This is one of the most iconic ornaments among the Yakuts, it shows the worship of the Yakuts before the sun, and therefore is drawn in many objects: in belts, back and chest decorations, in a "diabaka" hat, etc.

In addition, in the works of Yakut applied art, along with ornaments, various plot drawings with heraldic meanings are depicted: a horse-man-unicorn, a lion, a horse, the folklore holy tree Aal-Luuk Mas, birds (eagle, swan, cuckoo, goldeneye).