The paper describes the traditional and modern jewelry art of Kazakhstan. Regional features of artistic metalworking in Western, Central and Southern Kazakhstan are highlighted. The author shows how jewelry canons are changing in the works of modern masters. Keywords: traditional and modern jewelry art of Kazakhstan, zergery, usta, sheber, Kazakh decorative and applied art. Jewelry traditions of the Kazakh people, the origins of which go back to the techniques of artistic metalworking of early nomads, were developed in the Middle Ages, were influenced by many Eurasian cultures and acquired their complete appearance simultaneously with the formation of the Kazakh ethnic group. Researcher of traditional Kazakh culture E. A. Masanov divided metalworking masters into blacksmiths-usta and jewelers-zergers-silversmiths. According to the legendary tradition of the Kazakhs, the first blacksmith, jeweler and patron of the first 40 masters was Daoud Paigambar (the prophet David). His name was associated with the origin of metalworking and the emergence of all crafts. It is said that Daoud's hands were never burned by fire; he kneaded metal like dough without using a tool. Obsession with the spirit of the Great Prophet defined the Zerg master's vocation. Jewelry art, the nature of which was considered sacred by the Kazakhs, according to folk tradition, was a chosen cause, sometimes associated with suffering and diseases [Tokhtabayeva, 2005, p.215]. The Kazakhs had an idea of the miraculous power of people associated with red-hot metal, and their places of work were revered. In the workshop, it was forbidden to talk about bad things, swear, shout, step over an anvil, bellows and other tools. Kazakhs not only revered the attributes of metalworking, but also believed in their healing and apotropaic properties. The people have preserved numerous stories about how infertile women and mentally ill people who spent the night near the bellows or anvil were cured: in the evening before ... Читать далее