User:Auesbek Anel/Saukele

right|thumb|Saukele Saukele - is the most original and distinctive headwear of the Kazakh women.

Saukele (‘sau’ – “sunny, beautiful”, ‘kele’ – “head’) were the most expensive elements of the bride’s dowry, so richly decorated saukeles represent best samples of Kazakh folk applied art.

The most skillful masters crafted it. Jewellers-zergers founded, pressed or minted metal parts. As a rule, making of one saukele took a whole year. It is important that while keeping main elements, each of saukele has its own features as a result of individual work, availability of materials and other reasons. This way, each such headdress is a unique, inimitable artwork.

Saukele was given from mother to daughter, from generation to generation. According to custom, the bride was dressed in a wedding dress at her father’s house. Saukele was put on the bride by a respectable woman, for what she received an expensive present from bridegroom. After wedding the wife wore saukele for solemn occasions in the course of year, more exactly, until birth of first child.

Saukele decorated with precious stones, pearls, corals and gold were incredibly beautiful, with golden tassels, covered with silk.