In the 175th number of prestigious magazine “Hali” for 2013, being issued in the English language and delivered to the fund of the State Library of Turkmenistan, it was published the book review “Turkmen jewelry articles: silver decorations from collection of Marshall and Marilyn R. Woolf” issued in New Haven in 2012.
Over 30 years ago, Marshall and Marilyn Woolf started to take up the largest in the western hemisphere collection of the Turkmen silver decorations. Their collection, consisting of 250 articles and recently gifted to the largest Museum of Arts of New York - “Metropolitan”, includes the silver head decorations, braid and temporal pendants, earrings, necklace, brooches, amulets and bracelets as well as other articles of splendour.
“Turkmen jewelry articles” is the first book of such type published in the USA. It was written by Layla Diba, former curator of the collection of Islamic Art of Brooklyn Museum. The author provides a classification and estimation of these silver articles and comprehensively considers the origin and evolution of the Turkmen motives in the contest of the Islamic Ornamentation Art.
In the introductory essay, Diba researches the historical development and changing process of the Turkmen motives and their influence on early Islamic style. Typical patterns on images of silver and bronze decorations of X-XI centuries undoubtedly indicate the successive connection with later jewelry articles.
The author considers the silver adornments in the context of socio-political development, traditions and culture of the Turkmen people. Moreover, the reproductions of the eyewitnesses of XIX century, European travelers give important obvious documentary information about life of the Turkmen and their material culture. Drawings of journalists and military officers contribute to the better understanding of tradition by which the Turkmen women adorn themselves with jewels.
In the catalogue, the articles are subdivided on type and purposes. Information about materials, methods of performance, structure and drawing of every article alongside with historical and subsidiary information are valuable for the researchers and collectors. They provide deep understanding and high estimation of the Turkmen aesthetics. Essay about Turkmen and Central Asian technique of jeweler’s art written by Jean François de La Perouse, curator of “Metropolitan” Museum is the further penetration in essence of subtle original art. There are wonderful photographs of Ann-Mari Kelen in the book. They underline the value of every production.
Over 30 years ago, Marshall and Marilyn Woolf started to take up the largest in the western hemisphere collection of the Turkmen silver decorations. Their collection, consisting of 250 articles and recently gifted to the largest Museum of Arts of New York - “Metropolitan”, includes the silver head decorations, braid and temporal pendants, earrings, necklace, brooches, amulets and bracelets as well as other articles of splendour.
“Turkmen jewelry articles” is the first book of such type published in the USA. It was written by Layla Diba, former curator of the collection of Islamic Art of Brooklyn Museum. The author provides a classification and estimation of these silver articles and comprehensively considers the origin and evolution of the Turkmen motives in the contest of the Islamic Ornamentation Art.
In the introductory essay, Diba researches the historical development and changing process of the Turkmen motives and their influence on early Islamic style. Typical patterns on images of silver and bronze decorations of X-XI centuries undoubtedly indicate the successive connection with later jewelry articles.
The author considers the silver adornments in the context of socio-political development, traditions and culture of the Turkmen people. Moreover, the reproductions of the eyewitnesses of XIX century, European travelers give important obvious documentary information about life of the Turkmen and their material culture. Drawings of journalists and military officers contribute to the better understanding of tradition by which the Turkmen women adorn themselves with jewels.
In the catalogue, the articles are subdivided on type and purposes. Information about materials, methods of performance, structure and drawing of every article alongside with historical and subsidiary information are valuable for the researchers and collectors. They provide deep understanding and high estimation of the Turkmen aesthetics. Essay about Turkmen and Central Asian technique of jeweler’s art written by Jean François de La Perouse, curator of “Metropolitan” Museum is the further penetration in essence of subtle original art. There are wonderful photographs of Ann-Mari Kelen in the book. They underline the value of every production.
