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61
60
30
KILIM WITH
MACEDONIAN
INFLUENCE
ALBANIA, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton
warp, wool weft, natural dyes
68.75 x 130.5 in (175 x 332 cm)
$ 3,790 - 5,305
Rs 2,50,000 - 3,50,000
Shkodra
is
an
important
cultural and economic centre in
northwestern Albania, and one
of the oldest and most historic
places in the country. It has a
long history of folk art, weaving,
and embroidery with bright
colours. This striking red
kilim
from Shkodra is made with the
tapestry technique. The present
lot is a rare piece because the
motifs are said to be influenced
by Greek and Macedonian
designs. Jasleen Dhamija acquired
the present lot in Shkodra in
1994 from the woman shown in
the photograph. Her mother had
woven the
kilim
.
Kilim
woven in Albania, 1994
29
SUZANI WITH SUNBURST
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton, hand
embroidered with cotton thread, natural dyes
57 x 66.75 in (145 x 170 cm)
$ 3,035 - 6,065
Rs 2,00,000 - 4,00,000
Tashkent is one of the oldest towns in Central Asia,
with a long history of handcrafted textiles. The
worship of astrological bodies was an important
part of the religious practice of the local agricultural
population and was reflected in the art and craft
traditions of the region.
Dominating the centre of the present lot is a striking
purple circle, circumscribed by two layers of brown
flames. The circle is an ancient and recurring sun
motif common to many traditions and probably
refers to the sun or the moon, whose worship was
once so important in agricultural societies. The centre
is framed by a narrow border of six-petalled flowers
each joined to the other by a leguminous vine.
Such large, colourful, almost square
suzanis
, might
have been used as wall hangings. When a girl marries
in Tashkent, four girlfriends will traditionally hold a
suzani
above her head to protect her from evil spirits
when she enters her husband’s home. This cloth is
then hung on the wall as part of her dowry in addition
to being a protective cloth to ward off misfortunes.