Bakhargul Tolegenkyzy. “Many a little makes a mickle”// Vremya. №59(1027) 27.04.2010

She started her collection having one unusual ring 15 years ago and now it has more than thousand items of domestic belongings, applied art and jewellery of Kazakhs and Central Asia.

Last week in Almaty in Central State museum RK, collector, Bakhargul Tolegenkyzy presented her personal exhibition “Zhuregimde Otanym”.

She was born in China and in 1994 moved to historical motherland, where her passion to collecting  broke out. Last year she was awarded as an honoured art worker and this year she won the project of “Kazakhstan Woman - 2010”

Silver – kazakh metal

“Many a little makes a mickle” is the Bakhargul’s principle of collecting.  Everything has its own history,. Sometimes people bring some  trinkets, utensils, but basically,  I look for tings for my collection on my own.

Remember 8 years ago I was brought an amazing sleeveless jacket, embellished with coins minted  in 1907 with silver stripes. The price was around 70 dollars but I did not have that money and I lost it.  I still feel pity.

Some funny stories happens occasionally. One day I was offered to buy a karakalpak’s woman’s hat. I bought it without not making too much thinking. But very next day, the seller came to me and asked to return it because the owner changed his mind. I refused: deal is deal, but woman was keeping coming everyday. She saw that I am adamant and offered in return a kazakh silver ring dated end of XVIII century. When I saw the ring, I gave the hat back: I have got passion to silver jewellery.

Because every article has its own meaning. One can determine the estate of a person, where he was born? What status he has? For example, if a girl wears earrings that means she is engaged. Or if a girl wears a ring “кус тумсык” (bird’s beak) that means: she is available. The same ring is presented to a man, going to war to be back healthy. The unity of two families symbolized massive west Kazakhstan rings – so called “matchmaker rings”. The matchmaker presented them to mother- in-law for protection and kind attitude to daughter in law. Once I was offered this kind of ring fro 1000 dollars and in two years the price was 7 thousand.

From evil eye, from cursing word

The special attention deserves the chest jewellery “onyrzhiyek”- the necessary attribute of married women especially in breastfeeding period. This meant the protection of breast from evil eye. I got one of them by exchange. When I saw it, I understood that it is priceless: it was very old and fine piece of art. I have been persuading an owner long time to sell it, but the owner didn’t want. Surprisingly she got interested in my gold jewellery and I offered the exchange. She agreed and I was surprised that she preferred Italian gold to ancient rarity.

Breast jewellery: amulet holders – “tumarsha” (triangle shape), “boitumar” (hollow tube with pendants), carrying the function of talisman. Inside the citation from Quran, sea and river shells, owl feathers, flock of sheep or camel fur put in.

I have series of this kind of talisman  one has been brought to me in secret way. Three years ago an old man came and brought many spoons, forks and knives – 190 items. We talked a lot and suddenly he gave me “tumar” saying to keep myself away from evil eye. Since that time this amulet is always with me and brings me lack.

Secret messages of saukele

The secret messages had written on the shawl of Kazakh brides since the beginning of time. The wedding ornaments had encoded history of the tribe, its philosophy and mentality. “Saukele” and “yurta”  were the most precious things in dowry of a bride.

Usually , “saukele” has been prepared for one year. The cost of it could go up to 100 rubles in XIX-XX century (approximately 100 horses). I have several such hats, it is wealth.

My pride is domestic utensils. For example, a jug, which is 900 years old. I found it during my trip to South Kazkhstan villages.

And one of my first saddles I exchanged for visa to Almaty. When I visited my husband’s relatives in west China, I saw  the old saddle. They didn’t want to sell it to me, then I promised to get invitation to Almaty.

In future Bakhargul dreams to open a privet museum, where she exhibits her collection. She plans to leave her business to her daughter: she is 8 years old but already knows how to deal with silver jewellery.

Text by Nadezhda Plyaskina

Bakhargul Tolegenkyzy. “Many a little makes a mickle”// Vremya. №59(1027) 27.04.2010