Central Asia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, Uzbek people, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. This is a gorgeous suzani textile - a cotton panel that is covered with silk embroidery and couching across the entire surface! The ground color is a pale yellow-beige silk, and the patterning consists of repeating symmetrical geometric, stylized floral, and paisley shapes dyed in shades of indigo blue, red, and pink. The hand-woven cotton cloth was only the foundation and often made from multiple panels in a plain "tea washed" hue. The patterns were drawn on, then the panels were often taken apart for multiple women to embroider at the same time, once complete the panels are sewn together - exemplified in this piece! Size: 44.25" L x 36.25" W (112.4 cm x 92.1 cm)

The word suzani is derived from the Persian "suzan" which translates as needle and the fine art of creating such textiles is known as "suzandozi" or needlework. The silk stiches create fine texture and sheen to the otherwise plain cotton textiles. The process - especially covering the whole surface of the cloth such as this piece - was time consuming and suzanis were made by women for their daughter's dowry as well as for household uses such as tablecloths, prayer mats, bedcovers, wall-hangings, and even as horse blankets. According to scholars, the oldest surviving suzanis extend to the late 18th and early 19th centuries; however, they were most likely initially created long before. The early 15th century writings of one Ruy Gonzales de Clavijo, the Castilian ambassador to the court of Timur (Tamerlane), includes detailed descriptions of embroideries that scholars believe to be forerunners of suzani textiles!

This piece was owned by Peggy Slappey, a renowned collector of Uzbek art. Her collection was featured at the Birmingham Museum of Art on March 19th, 2016 to July 10th, 2016 for an exhibition on Uzbek ikat textiles.

Provenance: private Dunwoody, Georgia, USA collection; ex-Peggy Slappey collection

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#164659

Excellent condition. Minor pilling and fraying of some threads, but stitching is overall secure and tight.