Sunday, 10 February 2008
Suzani
Suzani comes from the Persian word for "needle". It refers to exquisitely embroidered silk thread on a cotton and sometimes silk base. Once you have seen the beauty of a Suzani it is indelibly ingrained in your mind. The birthplace of suzanis is in what is now Uzbekistan, the area along the Silk Roads that interconnected the cultures of Europe, Turkey and China with the Muslim world. Over time splendid cities arose there: among them Bukhara, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz and Khiva. They are often dowries, hence the join down the centre. One half from the mother, the other crated by the daugther. The size, skill and materials used reflect personally on the bride and her family.
CentralAsianTextiles at 12:30