26-27 / 168
24
25
7
FLORAL GREEN NIMSUZANI
EMBROIDERED SCARF
TAJIKISTAN, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven silk, hand embroidered
with silk thread, double-sided
34.5 x 37.5 n (88 x 95.5 cm)
$ 3,790 - 5,305
Rs 2,50,000 - 3,50,000
Suzanis
are valued for their sense of colour and design
aesthetic, and the fineness of their stitching. The small
but exceptional present lot
is an exquisite example of
all three. It is an extremely rare piece of double-sided
embroidery, known in India as
dorukha
. The delicate
stitches, executed on a green silk background, display
the remarkable needlework skills and creativity of the
maker. The centre shows a combination of abstract
flowers each framed by a creeper. The borders,
within which are flowers and creepers, vary in size,
with opposite ones being similar. The piece is not
symmetrical and that only adds to its charm. The
present lot, a
nimsuzani
, was possibly used as a scarf or
a wrapper for gifting or keeping valuable possessions,
or could even have been a cradle cover.