Sheepskin Hat (Telpek)

Turkemenistan

Late 20th century

Karakul wool

A Turkmen, living on the windblown steppes of Central Asia, is easily identified by his Telpek, the traditional sheepskin hat that provides warmth and protection from the elements. The hat is also worn in the summer to block the sun’s rays. The Turkmen are a nomadic people who moved westward, settling into areas of what are today Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan.