Important Notice

BUKHARA, UZBEKISTAN, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton, hand embroidered with cotton thread, natural dyes
47.25 x 56.5 in (120 x 144 cm)


The city of Bukhara, prominent on the Silk Road, was one of the oldest trade centres of Asia. Bukhara was renowned for its decorative arts, with a quarter of its population working as artisans. As a leading artistic centre, the highpoint of Bukharan embroidery production was between 1850 and 1920. Suzanis made in Bukhara were the dominant style and set the standard for those that evolved in regional centres.

The veneration of astrological bodies was an important part of the ritual life of both agricultural and nomadic societies. The sun, moon and stars were worshipped for their life giving properties and for the crucial role they played in maintaining a critical balance for existence. The vivid reds and yellows of the present lot are reminiscent of the luminescence of the sun. The central white roundel, surrounded by four smaller yellow roundels in each corner, evokes the brilliance of the sun. The embroidery features the classic Bukharan use of the chain stitch, which was worked on the cotton with either a needle or a tambour hook. Bamsa, often referred to as Bukhara couching is also seen in the present lot.

Sizes of suzanis varied depending on their intended use - large ones were made to decorate rooms as wall hangings, bed coverlets or canopies. Smaller ones were used to wrap clothing or used as pillow and cradle covers. The present lot is a half-size hanging or cover, known as a nimsuzani.

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