Tush Kiyiz, pronounced “toosh keeyiz,” are traditional wall hangings created by grandmothers as wedding gifts for their grandchildren, reflecting a long-standing family tradition among the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples. These distinctive pieces often feature cosmic designs and motifs that symbolize rural life in the high valleys.
Unlike Kyrgyz carpets such as Shyrdaks and Ala-Kiyiz, which are made from felt, Tush Kiyiz are crafted from a cloth background adorned with vibrant embroidered designs. While felt carpets are functional floor coverings, Tush Kiyiz are primarily decorative wall panels used in yurts (or yourtas). These decorative panels are found throughout Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Upper Xinjiang in China.
The creation of Tush Kiyiz involves sewing intricate embroidery onto the cloth, with some patterns meticulously outlined beforehand, though more experienced craftswomen often work freely, allowing for greater improvisation. Older Tush Kiyiz are characterized by their softer colors, achieved through natural dyes, and often feature elaborate designs filled with fine chain stitching. Each Tush Kiyiz is unique, and many are personalized with the names of the couple for whom they were made, or the name of the craftswoman.
In addition to their decorative function, some Tush Kiyiz are repurposed into containers for clothes and other items, known as “tegche.” These can also be hung on walls and come in various types. Larger Tush Kiyiz often cover much of a wall with the embroidery concentrated around the edges, while the center remains the original fabric. Smaller Tush Kiyiz may be used as headboards or divan covers, though these are increasingly rare.
Today, Tush Kiyiz are becoming scarce due to the decline in yurt living and the shift to modern housing. The traditional craft is fading as machine-made materials become more common and the skills required to create these pieces are lost. Genuine Tush Kiyiz, which may take several months to complete, are now hard to find, especially those older than 40 or 50 years. Authentic hand-sewn Tush Kiyiz can be identified by their backs, which show numerous thread ends where the needle was re-threaded, a contrast to the uniform appearance of machine-made variants.
