Kyrgyz people have long used the stems of the steppe plant chiy for various products. A. P. Fedchenko wrote about the properties and benefits of this plant, as well as its use in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan: "Being thin, strong, and uniformly straight over long distances, without knots, they (the stems of chiy — K. A.) are very convenient for making mats. Mats made from chiy are widely used by the Kyrgyz, and the sides of the yurt are necessarily covered with chiy; it is dense enough to protect the yurt from dust, the fire from strong winds, while still allowing fresh air and some light to pass through."
From "chiy," the Kyrgyz made a kind of screen — ashkana chiy — to enclose part of the yurt (to the right of the entrance), where household items are placed and food is stored, as well as a base for a hanging door in the yurt, and many various household items (covers for cauldrons, hanging shelves, mats, etc.).
In southern Kyrgyzstan, "chiy" grows only in the Alai Valley. Kyrgyz from the southwestern regions of the Osh region would specifically come here for it or bring it home when returning from summer pastures. Northern Kyrgyz also brought "chiy" to the south. Where this plant was insufficient, southern Kyrgyz replaced it with stems of reeds, also calling them "chiy," which indicates that in the past, stems of "chiy" were indeed used for yurts.
The technique of binding "chiy" (as well as reeds) stems has preserved many archaic methods. To make a mat, an extremely simple loom is set up, with which the components of the mat (stems of "chiy," reeds) are joined by throwing tightly twisted woolen threads over them, the balls of which are wound around small stones. The loom gives the impression of being the most primitive of weaving devices.
Patterned mat "ashkana chiy". Alai district (photo by S. M. Dudina, GME, No. 14-32)
Mats used for covering the frame of the yurt, for hanging on the door, and for screens were made with patterns in the past. Patterned screens were more commonly used. As for the first two, they were the property of the wealthy and have almost not survived in southern Kyrgyzstan.
The screen "ashkana chiy" was made both by the artisans themselves and brought as a gift from the north, in exchange for a pile carpet or as an item included in the kalym (bride price).
Weaving mats was not a common practice among other peoples of Central Asia. In this regard, the Kyrgyz are most similar to the Kazakhs, among whom the production of patterned mats was also widely developed.
Patterned weaving of "chiy" stems requires great skill. This was done by specialized artisans, whose skills were passed down through generations.
The most challenging aspect of the craft of making a patterned mat is creating and arranging the pattern. All the pre-prepared and trimmed stems are laid out on a smooth surface so that each one fits tightly against the other. The pattern conceived by the artisan is marked with an awl or a thick needle. Sometimes it is burned in with a hot iron rod. Some artisans tie knots on the laid-out stems at the contours of the pattern, which serve as unique guides when creating the pattern. According to the markings, the chiy stems are wrapped with prepared wool. The artisan holds the colored wool in the left hand while rotating the stem with the right hand, winding the wool onto it in a thin, yet dense and even layer. Like magic, a pattern emerges as one stem is joined to another. The entwined stems are tied together with woolen thread on the loom we mentioned.
Patterned mat "ashkana chiy". Batken district.
The work of creating a patterned mat in the described manner requires not only skill, great craftsmanship, and artistic taste, but also a considerable amount of time. In one and a half to two months, one artisan can make no more than one screen.
Among the artistic merits of the patterned screen, the color scheme stands out, which is very typical of Kyrgyz folk art. Its background is often red, but not bright, and the pattern on it is usually a deep blue color. Other colors (white, yellow, green), which enliven the pattern, mostly create details of the pattern, and sometimes contours or stripes, on which, like on the background, a pattern of red or blue color is created.
The patterns executed on the screen are diverse. In style, they are most similar to the ornamentation on patterned fabrics, felt, and pile carpets. There is a noticeable imitation of the ornamentation of Uzbek silk handicraft fabrics. Therefore, in the decoration of southern Kyrgyz screens, in addition to typical horn-like motifs and diamonds, large patterns with hanging figures are included. Many similar motifs to the patterned fabrics "kadzhar" in the form of arrows, crests, elongated polygons, as well as "terme." Characteristic of the decoration of southern Kyrgyz mats is the use of ornaments typical for Kyrgyz carpets. In the eastern part of the region, we encountered mats made from chiy with patterns characteristic of felt mosaics.
In creating the composition on the screen, several techniques can be traced, largely depending on the nature of the pattern. The most common placement of the ornament on the southern Kyrgyz screen is distinctive: one, two, or three large medallions are developed, incorporating various ornamental motifs, with stripes filled with a different pattern given at their edges. A similar composition is noted on the screens of the Pamir Kyrgyz. In Northern Kyrgyzstan, however, as far as the available material allows us to judge, such compositions are not observed. Here, in the ornaments and methods of their placement on the screen, one cannot help but notice clear analogies with pile carpets. The analogy with pile patterns and composition is also noted in the mats that were used in the eastern part of the Osh region. This is confirmed by photographs of screens acquired by S. M. Dudina in the Alai region.
Patterned mat "ashkana chiy". Alai district
Thus, we can speak of local variations of patterned weaving on the screen "ashkana chiy." It is extremely interesting that where carpet production among the Kyrgyz did not develop, screens were made in a carpet style, and vice versa. This indicates close ties in the past between northern and southern Kyrgyz. The carpet composition on the screen is an imitation of the composition of a pile carpet.
Currently, in southern Kyrgyzstan, unfortunately, no one is engaged in the production of patterned mats, and this art, which has deep folk traditions, is being forgotten. Meanwhile, patterned mats can be widely used for decorative embellishment of homes if some changes are made in accordance with modern aesthetic tastes and requirements.