The Great Embroideries of Bukhara

The hand-embroidered covers featured in this publication date from the golden age of needlework in the former Central Asian Emirates of Bukhara and Kokand, in what is now Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Known as suzani, from the Farsi word for ‘needle’, these textiles were traditionally embroidered by brides and their families as dowry gifts, a tradition which flourished from the 18th to the early 20th century.

This boxed set brings together almost all known examples of an extraordinary group of suzani made in and around Bukhara during the 18th and 19th centuries. Characterised by their huge central medallions, these embroideries are an explosion of colour and form. Many are among the largest suzani known, and their bold, graphic designs have earned them the name ‘the Great Embroideries of Bukhara’.

Contains 22 loose-leaf colour plates featuring selected suzani and their close-up details, alongside a softcover catalogue with text by Michael Franses exploring the suzani tradition and discussing these spectacular embroideries.