Vintage Uzbek Suzani or Embroidery, Central Asia, circa 1920s

Antique Uzbek Suzani Embroidery, c. 1800 Blending naturalism with ethereal fantasy, this spectacular embroidery or ‘suzani‘ from Central Asia conveys an aesthetic consistent with older examples of the genre. Certain features, most notably the vine-scroll, are reminiscent of the Samarkand school, while the drawing of the blossoms seems more prevalent in the repertoire of neighboring Shahrisabz. Indeed, this piece may in fact be a common ancestor to both. Splendid palmettes with flame-like tracery and bold swirling star-centered blossoms alternate within the border. Vegetal scroll meanders throughout—drawn with several shades of green conveying, if not a sense of shadowing, definite and deliberate tonalities of light and dark. The central hourglass form, idiosyncrasies of drawing, and arrangement of blossoms in the field imbue a sense of classicism rivaling and surpassing older Ottoman and Persian models. Embroidery Rug...

The Suzani textiles from Uzbekistan represent the most refined and elegant manifestation of Central Asian textile art tradition. Silk on cotton embroideries such as this one were wov...

The Suzani has an unusual color palette and has a Russian print lining.

The Suzani textiles from Uzbekistan represent the most refined and elegant manifestation of the Central Asian textile art tradition. Exquisite emb...

The Suzani textiles from Uzbekistan represent the most refined and elegant manifestation of the Central Asian textile art tradition. Exquisite emb...

The Suzani textiles from Uzbekistan represent the most refined and elegant manifestation of the Central Asian textile art tradition. Exquisite emb...