Skullcap

Four flowers at the top of the men’s skullcap, according to the legend, protect the men’s health on four sides, and sixteen flowers on the edge of the skullcap express the desire to have a large and friendly family (have sixteen children). These skullcaps have a strict, modest and at the same time very decorative appearance. The contrasting combination of white pattern of four peppers “kalampir” with a black background is typical for these skullcaps. Embroidered white silk flowers on a dark background served as an expression of the purity of the soul and man’s heart.

For decorating women’s skullcaps, flowers, fruits and birds are mainly used. Among the floral motifs are common rose, iris, carnation, tulip, cock's comb, apple blossom, etc., and among fruits — images of pomegranate, cherries, almonds, pepper, etc. Flowers are more often depicted on the top and side. Especially the details inside the flowers are carefully worked up. Birds could also form the main pattern of an ornamental motif. Basically, these are images of a pheasant, a rooster, and a nightingale (“Bulbul”). The tendency of masters to beauty and perfection elevated their work from craft to the highest art.

Thus, all the design elements of the Uzbek skullcap – color, line, ornament – carry an important semantic load, often associated with such universal concepts as life and death, light and darkness, earth and sky, good and evil. Uzbek skullcaps are deservedly in demand all over the world. Foreign tourists tend to buy these hats as an unusual souvenir; many even decorate their homes with them. You can buy a skullcap for personal use at any Bazaar and in special souvenir shops in tourist centres.