MUNDURUCU
Central Asia is a region of steppe lands, mountain valleys and oasis towns, home to Uzbek, Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and other peoples. Their dress reflects both local traditions and centuries of travel and trade.
Turkmen jewellery could be impressively large. Silver ornaments, sometimes gilded or set with coloured stones, drew attention to the body. They could combine beauty with ideas of protection and social standing.
Textiles added bold colour. In ikat, sections of thread are dyed before weaving, producing patterns with soft, blurred edges. Robes, caps and other garments reveal the skills of makers who knew how to bring those designs together.
Some communities also used small tattoos on the hands or wrists. But jewellery and clothing take centre stage in many portraits: a rich robe, a carefully chosen head covering or a bride's ornaments could make a person's place and occasion immediately visible.