Mid 19th century, 226 x 152 cm, Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Shakhrisyabz

Collection VOK: Suzani 2, 76

Embroidered on a deep blue silk ground, this rare suzani is a Lakai piece made in the surroundings of Shakhrisyabz. The extra-wide border and the narrow field are decorated with identical designs: large circular flowers, each enclosing a star motif that appears to rotate; voluminous botehs, most of them arranged in pairs; and creeper-like vines decorated with small plain-coloured botehs or globes. The expressive diversity of colour and somewhat surrealist style of drawing are characteristic features of Lakai suzanis, as is the use of wool yarn in the red sections and the presence of the typical embroidered seams. The design of the secondary borders, with short diagonal twigs in the outer band and a convoluted chain-like vine in the inner band, lacks comparative examples in publications. - Suzanis embroidered on a strongly coloured silk foundation are usually Lakai pieces. The delicate silk fabric was always backed with a coarse cotton to provide the necessary stability. The two layers were joined by the embroidery. – The silk ground has worn away in several places, where the cotton foundation is visible. Several major missing sections, signs of age and wear. Backed with canvas.

HALI 104, London 1999, p. 52 (Terry Antique Textiles advertisement) *** VOK, IGNAZIO, Suzani 2. A Textile Art from Central Asia. Second part of the collection, catalogue nos. 49 – 79. (Text by Jakob Taube) Munich 2006, no. 76