Antique Shakhrisyabz Suzani

Period: Early 19th Century
Origin: Shakhrisyabz, Uzbekistan
Dimensions: 197 x 207 cm

This rare early 19th century Central Asian Shakhrisyabz Suzani from South West Uzbekistan highlights a powerful and rhythmic floral composition featuring a central field populated by large, scrolling floral medallions and sweeping leafy vines. This structural balance between the fluid, hand-drawn needlework and the natural ivory ground reflects the pinnacle of the Shakhrisyabz embroidery tradition, noted for its bold scale and artistic freedom. Suzanis of this antiquity are world-renowned for their “joyful” aesthetic, where traditional botanical symbols of fertility—specifically the pomegranate and carnation—are rendered with a sophisticated, painterly 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, and deep teal blue. 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 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 kanda-khayol (couching) or basma stitches on a hand-loomed cotton foundation. The exceptional clarity of the organic outlines—including the characteristic “teardrop” shapes within the flowers—and the presence of significant, harmonious abrash within the silk sections definitively distinguish this antique masterpiece from later, more rigid commercial examples. Ultimately, this Shakhrisyabz 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 : 1761

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