Syrmaq

One of Kazakhstan's most distinctive crafts, a syrmaq is a carpet made of dense, mosaic-cut felt using strict geometric patterns. Once, syrmaqs adorned the floors of every yurt. Today, the craft is experiencing a revival after a decline at the end of the Soviet era, when handcrafted carpets gave way to the widespread availability of affordable, high-quality machine-made carpets. Additionally, the migration of the population to modern homes significantly reduced the need to protect the home from bad weather conditions. Today, the syrmaq is more of an art form than a necessary household item, and syrmaqs are more commonly found on the walls than on the floors. They are a labor-intensive craft as a group of seven artisans can handcraft only six standard-sized syrmaqs (2.5 by 3 meters) in a month.

Syrmaqs are produced in pairs. First, the felt is prepared and dyed, and then layers of different colors are stacked and cut to create mirrored patterns. Pieces of different colors are then inserted into each other, secured, sewn onto a coarser backing felt, and adorned with colored cords. As a result, two syrmaq carpets are created, each a mirror reflection of each other. The more complex the pattern, the more time it takes to create and the more expensive the final product becomes. Traditional syrmaqs are characterized by calm, relatively simple patterns featuring contrasting yet restrained colors since excessive flamboyance does not align with the traditional functionality of this folk carpet.