Uzbek felt okbash

This curious conical felt bag is a Central Asian ‘ok bash’. ‘Ok bash’ literally means ‘arrow bag,’ but these pieces were used to cover the ends of tent poles when the yurt was broken down and transported. The Uzbek used a thin, but wind-resistant, red dyed felt for several types of bags and trappings. These display a range of abstract geometric patterns on their surfaces. This felt ok bash still preserves its original decorative horse hair tassels.