Ancient jewellery was presented at an exhibition in Almaty. Art conservators have done a great work on restoring over 700 precious jewels. In total, the fund of the Central State Museum keeps over 14,000 pieces of jewellery dating back to different historical periods. For example, these earrings were found during an archaeological expedition in 2013 in the Kultobe burial mound. They have an unusual rounded ball shape and are inlaid with garnet.
“I would like to note that jewellery was found during the excavations in the Kultobe burial mound. They are made of pure gold. These items are presented in the exposition for the first time,” said Sholpan Tursunbayeva, Head of the Restoration Department at the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan.
“We use different methods to restore jewellery. If the item is tarnished or dirty, we clean it. But for example if there is jewellery made from silver, we soak it in acids and then wash it in warm distilled water with soap. Then we dry it, wipe it and then it returns to its original form. We restore the shine of jewellery,” added artist and restorer Rinat Sonarbayev.
In addition, jewellery sets of Kazakh legendary women of the 19th-20th centuries are displayed at the exposition. These are bracelets, earrings from the personal collection of dancer Shara Zhienkulova, a belt and an amulet of singer Zhamal Omarova. The stage jewellery sets of opera diva Kulyash Baiseitova complement the exhibition.
Translation by Saule Mukhamejanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova