Sarmakand Nim Suzani

157 x 118 cm (5' 2" x 3' 10") Uzbekistan, mid 19th century or before Condition: good for its age, base fabric partially damaged, dark brown partially corroded, minor abrasions, scattered small repairs Silk on cotton The wonderful thing about truly beautiful Suzanis is that you can look at them forever and always discover something new: sometimes a surprising flower here and there, a sudden shift in color scheme, the curve of a vine, or even zoomorphic creatures. We invite you to take a brief visual journey to find these creatures before you continue reading. The answers are below. Central Asian Suzanis - the name derives from the Persian Suzandozi, meaning "needlework" - are among the most beautiful textiles of the Orient. One of the most prominent Suzani collectors, Ignazio Vok, wrote in the introduction to his collection catalogs: "Suzani are the most cheerful of all textiles." Who could disagree with that while admiring our embroidery? The city of Samarkand is known, among other things, for its lush tendrils and central floral medallion. Enchanting colors accompany the dynamic design. The arrangement of a cross-sectioned flower in the center surrounded by four lengthwise-sectioned flowers is called a four-plus-one formation. This appears in Suzanis both in the field and in the borders, though rarely in such a monumental execution. The composition is set in a garden, where we discover numerous different flower shapes. Particularly interesting are the two flowers to the right and left of the medallion with their boteh leaves. If you paused for a moment earlier, you will likely have spotted a water jug, two little figures, and three birds - which undoubtedly represent peacocks. Additional Samarkand Suzanis can be found in Christian Erber, "Suzani," nos. 22 and 54, as well as in Bausback, "Suzani," p. 39, and in Rippon Boswell, Auction A105, lots 8 and 93. Some of these wonderful embroideries also look quite good when viewed horizontally. This is also true of this exceptionally beautiful piece - give it a try! Estimate: € 12000 - 18000 Starting bid: € 8000

Estimate:$13,498.08

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