Kundal, which is otherwise known as a clear pattern, is an example of the traditional art of Central Asia, which has survived and flourished only in Tajikistan. According to scientists, this rare art dates back to the XV century. At a time when a new method of decoration was used in a number of monuments of the ancient center of Tajiks – Samarkand (Shahi Zinda, Amir’s Tomb, Aqsarai), as well as separate parts of the roof and interior walls of the buildings were decorated with wonderful patterns using a large amount of gold. The beauty of kundal is based on the combination of complex symbols, mixing of natural and geometric shapes, play of imagination with colors, and each pattern required the art of reading and understanding.

Hamroqul Sharifov and Mirzorahmat Olimov are the outstanding masters of kundal. M. Olimov was the founder of the Kundal National School and actively spread its traditions in Dushanbe. Among his followers in Dushanbe, we should mention Karamatullo Ghayurov and Toshquvvat Haitov.

Along with other collections of the National Museum, there is a collection of “Carving and kundal”, which consists of more than 380 items. The “Carving and kundal” collection includes the works of outstanding masters of Tajik art such as Hamroqul Sharifov, Mirzorahmat Olimov, Karamatullo Ghayurov, Mirsaidov Sadullo, Nuriddinov Sirojiddin, Yahyoev Ali and others, which are on display on the third floor of the Department of fine and applied arts of the National Museum. Thousands of domestic and foreign citizens visit them every day.

The art of coppersmithing is one of the oldest crafts of the Tajik people, and one of the most influential Tajik families is known and famous as Safor (copper). In the 9th-11th centuries, the art of coppersmithing was highly developed, and Islamic, zoomorphic and epigraphic motifs appeared in it. During this period, the production of large pots – langars and pointed lamps increased, and the vessels were decorated with epigraphic patterns consisting of verses from the Qur’an, verses of the Persian-Tajik classics – Khayyam, Hafiz, Saadi, Bedil and Jami in the form of Kufic, Naskh, Nasta’liq and Suls inscriptions. The coppersmiths made copper sundials, pots, bowls, mugs, teapots, kettles, candlesticks, hand basins, tufdons, rugs, noskadu, antimony pots, melon shavers, crayons, pencil cases and women’s and men’s decorative items. The art of coppersmithing is protected and kept in the National Museum. In total, there are 470 copper vessels in the National Museum.