Antique Bokhara Suzani

Period: Early 19th Century
Origin: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Dimensions: 162 x 238 cm

This rare early 19th century Central Asian Bokhara Suzani from South West Uzbekistan highlights a powerful and rhythmic floral composition featuring a vibrant all-over lattice of blooming lotus and pomegranate motifs. This structural balance between the finely embroidered silk needlework and the natural linen or cotton ground reflects the pinnacle of the Uzbek domestic textile tradition. Suzanis of this antiquity are world-renowned for their “joyful” aesthetic, where traditional botanical symbols of fertility and abundance are rendered with a free-flowing, hand-drawn vitality.

The color palette is masterfully balanced, featuring a warm cream ground that serves as a dramatic canvas for high-contrast shifts of cochineal pink, madder red, turquoise, and golden yellow. These rich and enduring tones, achieved through the expert application of natural dyes over 200 years ago, exhibit a chromatic strength and a saturated depth that are hallmarks of the finest early 19th-century Central Asian productions. The inclusion of a wide primary border decorated with large, undulating floral rosettes and serrated “leaf” scrolls creates a precise visual frame that highlights the superior silk quality and distinctive technical finesse of the needleworkers.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand-spun silk thread executed in traditional tambour or basma stitches on a hand-loomed foundation. The exceptional clarity of the organic outlines—including the central floral medallion and the delicate vine-work connecting the blossoms—definitively distinguish this antique masterpiece from later, more rigid commercial examples. Ultimately, this Bokhara Suzani stands as a premier example of Central Asian textile art, representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global textile collectors.

Stock No : 1759

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