Central Asia, South West Uzbekistan Nurata Suzani

Period: Mid 19th Century
Origin: Central Asia, South West Uzbekistan Nurata Suzani
Dimensions: 154 x 236 cm

This rare middle of the 19th century Central Asian Nurata Suzani from South West Uzbekistan highlights a powerful and rhythmic floral composition featuring a delicate central star medallion surrounded by a light and airy arrangement of naturalistic floral sprays anchored within a luminous ivory cream cotton field. This structural balance between the expansive un-cluttered ground and the meticulously embroidered botanical clusters—often featuring the iconic “leafy bush” or flowering shrub motifs—reflects the pinnacle of the Nurata needlework tradition. Suzanis of this antiquity are world renowned for their sophisticated elegance and their ability to translate the beauty of a wild spring garden into a textile medium.

The color palette is masterfully balanced featuring a primary ivory field that serves as a dramatic canvas for high contrast shifts of madder red pomegranate pink forest green and golden saffron. These rich and enduring tones achieved through the expert application of natural dyes on silk thread over 170 years ago exhibit a chromatic strength and a saturated depth that are hallmarks of the finest mid 19th century Uzbekistan textile arts. The inclusion of a wide primary border populated by a rhythmic sequence of continuous scrolling vines and blossoming flower heads creates a precise visual frame that highlights the superior silk quality and the distinctive technical finesse of the embroiderers.

Structural analysis indicates the use of premium hand spun silk embroidery on a traditional narrow width cotton ground with a characteristically supple handle and fine “tambour” or chain stitch technique. The exceptional clarity of the curvilinear outlines specifically the delicate serrated leaves and the precisely rendered multi tiered petals of the scattered floral bouquets definitively distinguish this antique masterpiece as an authentic mid 19th century Nurata Suzani. Ultimately this textile stands as a premier example of Central Asian decorative art representing a peak in both technical endurance and graphic majesty for global textile collectors.

GRUBE, ERNST J., Keshte. Central Asian Embroideries. The Marshall and Marilyn R. Wolf Collection. New York 2003, no. 11

Stock No : 1774

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