Shyrdak and ala-kiyiz

Ala-kiyiz is a felt carpet made by pressing wool fibres together in a pattern. Shyrdak is more complex: the same pattern is cut from felt of two colours, the pieces are swapped and stitched side by side, and a felt backing is added.

The motifs recall animal horns, birds' claws, plants and mountains, and each colour has a meaning. A shyrdak is the shared work of several women over weeks.

Laid on the floor of a yurt, it protects against cold and damp, and a good shyrdak lasts for decades. UNESCO placed the craft on its urgent safeguarding list in 2012.