Woman’s Jeweled headpiece )Parkhona( and Gilded headdress
)Tüppi-yi-Tos-i Nekhuti(
Bukhara, Uzbekistan, early 20th century
headpiece: Golden tin, rubies, emeralds, tourmaline and pearls
In memory of Margalit Zadikov-Babayof courtesy of her daughters Varda, Nitza, Tami and Nava
headdress: Gilded wire, cotton threads, cotton fabric
Gift of Esther Admon in memory of her husband, the composer Yedidia Admon Gorokhov
The Parkhona was worn by the bride as a jeweled headpiece during the traditional engagement ceremony. The
golden pendant – in the shape of a lotus flower decorated with gems – was attached to the top part of the
golden cap. The pearl and gem tassels ran down from the decoration onto her forehead.
These headdresses were worn by young and married women until the birth of their first child; they would wear
them when they went outside and on holidays and special occasions.
Must Know
headdress is an important part of Uzbek traditional dress. The national headdress is the tubeteika/tyubiteika and usually has a square or round shape. Among Sephardic and Moroccan Jews the tyubiteika is also sometimes worn as a kippah.
More Info
The tyubiteika headdress is usually made out of velvet, satin or silk and embroidered with rich and multi-coloured beads, spangles and threads. It is usually made out of two or more layers of fabric and quilted by hand with a silk or cotton thread. The embroidering of the tyubiteika is typically a women’s job. The name is derived from the Turkic word “tube” meaning top or peak.
Traditional Uzkek clothing are usually very bright and multi-layered. They are worn on traditional festivities and holidays and sometimes are also worn as part of everyday life. Each one of the 12 regions of Uzbekistan has its own version of the headdress which expresses the identity region throughthe style and ornamentation of the hat. The tyubiteika is not only a national costumes among Uzbeks, it is also part of national costumes across Central Asia.
