Amulets (Kushtumor) from Uzbekistan

• country - Uzbekistan
• materials - gilt silver, coral, moonstone, turquoise-colored glass beads used as micro-mosaic
• object - kushtumor, or pair of breast amulets
• object date - 19th/20th Century
• source - Linda Pastorino

Kushtumor are one of a variety of tumars, or protective amulets worn on the chest. Ours are closely related in workmanship, design, and age, to the 19th Century pieces held by the Museum of Applied Art of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Each amulet has a cord with a counterweight attached to it at the end. The amulets are worn on opposite sides of the chest, with the cord going round the neck and the counterweight hanging on the other side of the chest.