Bokhara Large Medallion Suzani
ca. 1800, 250 x 160 cm, Central Asia, South West Uzbekistan
In his monograph on the large medallion suzanis of Bokhara, Michael Franses classified the rather different design types into groups. This suzani belongs to the small group lacking a large medallion. Already known to the author at the time, it appears as "J1" in a black-and-white illustration in the paperback included with the box. It is a singularly colourful embroidery, with a great deal of orange, purple, yellow and green. Moreover, it is rich in interesting details. The diagonal vines between the large circular blossoms and fan-shaped palmettes in the extra-wide main border are obviously salamanders, and are encountered in all LM suzanis. The small motifs are unusual: each corner of the field contains a bird; three further birds and one ewer are seen in the narrow central field; there are two cryptic, small diagonal crosses as well as four fish which circle a rotating blossom with a sawtooth outline in the second diamond from the top of the field. In all the circular blossoms and in one palmette, tiny ewers are placed on the inner lancet leaves. The embroidery is largely worked in the basma stitch, although kanda khayol stitch is also encountered, often in combination with basma in a single motif. All ten large blossoms of the border are surrounded by a ring of golden spirals.
FRANSES, MICHAEL, The Great Embroideries of Bukhara. London 2000, paperback no. J 1
Condition
Good condition. Composed of three panels and backed with linen.
ca. 1800, 250 x 160 cm, Central Asia, South West Uzbekistan
In his monograph on the large medallion suzanis of Bokhara, Michael Franses classified the rather different design types into groups. This suzani belongs to the small group lacking a large medallion. Already known to the author at the time, it appears as "J1" in a black-and-white illustration in the paperback included with the box. It is a singularly colourful embroidery, with a great deal of orange, purple, yellow and green. Moreover, it is rich in interesting details. The diagonal vines between the large circular blossoms and fan-shaped palmettes in the extra-wide main border are obviously salamanders, and are encountered in all LM suzanis. The small motifs are unusual: each corner of the field contains a bird; three further birds and one ewer are seen in the narrow central field; there are two cryptic, small diagonal crosses as well as four fish which circle a rotating blossom with a sawtooth outline in the second diamond from the top of the field. In all the circular blossoms and in one palmette, tiny ewers are placed on the inner lancet leaves. The embroidery is largely worked in the basma stitch, although kanda khayol stitch is also encountered, often in combination with basma in a single motif. All ten large blossoms of the border are surrounded by a ring of golden spirals.
FRANSES, MICHAEL, The Great Embroideries of Bukhara. London 2000, paperback no. J 1
Condition
Good condition. Composed of three panels and backed with linen.
