16-17 / 168
15
1
SUZANI WITH CONSTELLATION
PATTERN
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)
$ 3,035 - 4,550
Rs 2,00,000 - 3,00,000
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
.
Piled on wooden chests are
kilims
,
jajims
and
suzanis
made by women of
the household