Felt in the Turkic World: History and Present Day
Items of everyday use manufactured by craftsmen of sedentary and nomadic nations have always had similarities and differences. Proportions characteristic of nomadic culture can only be observed in the pieces of art they create. Felt, the most ancient material used by nomadic herdsmen migrating from yailag to gyshlak (wintering stations), is common among Turkic nations leading the life of nomads.
It is believed that felt-making technology appeared much earlier than the technology for manufacturing fleece-free and pile carpets. Although the exact date of its appearance is unknown, felt items discovered during archaeological excavations in the mounds in Altai suggest that Turkic-speaking peoples were using felt items already in the 6-4 centuries B.C.
Chinese sources testify to the importance of felt in the social life of ancient Turks. For instance, the chosen kagan was seated upon white felt and symbolically carried around the sun seven times, after which he became the undisputed ruler. According to another custom, the country's...