Centuries-old customs, traditions, and ways of life are vividly reflected in the decorative and applied arts of the Kazakh people.
The nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle of the Kazakhs, closely connected with livestock breeding, shaped everyday life and household organization. A special place in the home of a nomad was reserved for the horse, which served not only as a means of transportation but also as a symbol of the owner’s social status. For this reason, great attention was always paid to the appearance of the horse and the decoration of its tack and equipment.
Made of leather and wood, adorned with carved bone figures of animals and birds, inlaid with precious stones, and finished with gold and silver patterns, saddles and other elements of horse gear became true works of art.
The Kazakh yurt is a unique and ingenious invention of nomadic culture. It represents a harmonious combination of many traditional crafts: a wooden frame decorated with carved ornaments; thick felt coverings (koshma); felt-based floor carpets (tekemet); elegant ornamental wall hangings (tuskiiz); insulation and protection from moisture and dust; and the division of interior space using woven reed mats, which were also widely used in everyday life.
Reed mats (chiy) were woven in different ways depending on their purpose. Some were wrapped with colorful woolen threads, creating geometric patterns with horn-shaped curls, spirals, and hooks. Today, chiy is used to produce decorative panels, artworks, bags, screens, curtains, lampshades, decorative napkins, and household items.
Another unique invention of nomadic culture is felt — a material made from sheep’s or camel’s wool. It was used not only for yurt construction but also for making outerwear (shekpen, kattama), headwear, and footwear. Even today, this flexible and practical material is widely used to create items in a traditional national style.
Skilled craftsmen continue the ancient tradition of woodcarving, producing not only decorative yurt fittings but also musical instruments (dombra, kobyz, sybyzgy flute), chests, furniture, weapons, household utensils, and tool handles, all richly decorated with ornamental carvings.
Since ancient times, jewelry craftsmanship has also been highly developed in Kazakhstan. Master jewelers were skilled in metal smelting and artistic metalworking. They created not only magnificent saddles, but also finely inlaid silver and gold weapons, women’s jewelry, tableware, and decorative clothing elements.
Clay products decorated with traditional ornaments and motifs of birds and animals — including household utensils, ceramic tiles, jewelry, and musical instruments (such as the sansyrnay and flutes) — represent vibrant examples of Kazakh pottery craftsmanship.
Leather goods, essential for nomadic life, such as vessels for storing water and kumis during long journeys, leather boots worn in both winter and summer, horse harness elements, and clothing made from processed animal hides, also formed a distinctive and highly developed craft tradition.
Today, many decorative and applied art items that were once part of everyday life have become souvenirs, which can be purchased at folk craft festivals and artisan fairs.