Zarafshan Suzani
Origin:
Central Asia, Uzbekistan
Dimensions:
260 x 170 cm
Age:
First half 19th century
Estimate:
15,000.00 - 18,000.00 €
In this suzani – very densely embroidered and a veritable sea of flowers – the narrow single-stripe border completely recedes into the background and is only distinguished on closer inspection. A tile design of equally sized diamonds covers the field. The diamonds are framed by linear, diagonal green twigs. Each diamond contains a luxuriantly flowering tree of unique design; the flowers shoot up like fountains. Only five diamonds – one in each of the four corners and one at the centre of the field – show the same design, a tree composed of thin red spirals bearing small blue or green blossoms. Repeated five times, the design provides structure in the composition. The border overlaps the tiles along the sides so the design is an endless repeat. This rare suzani was probably made in the region north of Zarafshan, the same provenance as a comparable example in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow (no. 30.36). Although the latter is identical in composition and shows flowering trees drawn in a similarly luxuriant style, its design is larger in scale und thus appears very different. – Good condition, backed with canvas.
Published:
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. 67