Small Suzani

Starting at the 18th century and all the way to the beginning of the 20th century, suzanis were the most widespread household textiles in Central Asia. They were mostly made by the women of the household preparing a dowery cloth for a bride to be. Typically, the piece is embroidered in panels and then sewn together, but the ground appears to have been sewn together before it was embroidered.

This unique suzani is directionally embroidered in almost a prayer-arch shape, but without the pointed tip. A dense vine of florals separates the central field from the outer border and outlines the entire piece. The field and borders are filled with large and small shrubs. Most of the piece is embroidered in silk floss that varies from a silver to an off-white color. It is decorated with pops of pink, blue, and green in the centers of the flowers.

This piece is dated 1916 in Arabic off-center to the right at the top of the field.