Large Embroidered Suzani from Uzbekistan

Large embroidered cover from Uzbekistan, late 19th century. Large embroidered cover from Uzbekistan, late 19th century. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, acc. no. T.51-1970.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds a large, embroidered cover or hanging (125 x 79 cm) decorated in the suzani tradition. It dates to the second half of the nineteenth century and is said to originate from Bukhara in modern Uzbekistan. The cover is made of seven linen strips that have been sewn together, whereby the embroidered motifs do no always match well together.

The strips are embroidered with silk thread, using chain stitch and open chain stitch, Bokhara couching and buttonholes. The cover has a wide border and a panel in the centre. The centre holds a series of flower heads, symmetrically arranged, the areas in between filled with smaller floral motifs. The border holds a series of large flower heads.

See also the Needles entries on an early nineteenth century suzani in the Cleveland Museum of Art; on a coat from Uzbekistan, late nineteenth century and on Uzbek embroidered clothing (Afghanistan).

See also the TRC digital exhibition Dressing The Stans: Textiles, Dress and Jewellery from Central Asia (TRC, Leiden, 2017).

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 18th June 2016).

WV

Last modified on Wednesday, 25 April 2018 08:52
Published in Furnishings
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