Ulaanbaatar
From the ethnographic exhibits of the Museum of Uvs aimag
Art & Culture
Uvs /MONTSAME/. The Museum of Uvs aimag holds a collection of some interesting artifacts, a few of which are the jade carving, the silver comb, and the hidden lock.
Jade carving
With an intricate carving of a natural setting consisting of deers, birds, trees and plants in a very small area of space, this particular jade artifact catches a lot of attention from museum visitors. Weighing 0.160 grams, it is 10 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width and 2.5 cm in thickness. Senior staff of the museum B.Sambuu aquired the artifact with Chinese craftsmanship from a person named Tsagaan lam that lived in Undurkhangai soum, Uvs aimag in 1959.
Silver comb
This particular bow-shaped silver comb used to be used as a hair accessory by women. With a star made of ruby in the middle of its front side, it has a mother of pearl on the far end of each side with coral in between alongside carvings of floral patterns.
In the mid-20th century, it was common for women to use silver combs as an accessory alongside using them for detangling their hair. Crafted by a person named Tsezen in 1950, the comb was added to the museum’s collection in 1968.
The hidden lock
With a circular base made of copper, the front side of the lock has silver engravings surrounding a square that has a ruby in the middle. A pattern combining the traditional ugalz pattern (a pattern with round curved grooves) and the ulzii pattern that symbolizes an eternal knot is embossed around the square. Rather than a key, the lock uses 6 small knobs on its side to be opened. The museum acquired the lock from a person named Zuipel from Bukhmurun soum, Uvs aimag in 1964. The craftsman behind the lock is unknown.
