Suzaniis a type ofembroideredanddecorativetribaltextilemade inTajikistan,Uzbekistan,Afghanistanand otherCentral Asiancountries. Suzani is from thePersianسوزنSuzanwhich meansneedle.The art of making such textiles inIranis calledسوزندوزیSuzandozi(needlework). Suzanis are rather delicate and extremely few examples survive from before the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They belong, however, to a very ancient tradition. In the early 15th century,Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo,theCastilianambassador to the court ofTimur(Tamerlane), left detailed descriptions of embroideries that were probably forerunners of the suzani.[1]
Suzanis were traditionally made by Central Asian brides as part of theirdowry,and were presented to the groom on the wedding day.[2]
Types
edit- BukharaSuzani
- KhujandSuzani (Khujand,Tajikistan)
- LakaiSuzani
- NurataSuzani, made in the town ofNuratainUzbekistan.
- PiskentSuzani
- SamarkandSuzani
- Shakhrisabz Suzani
- TashkentSuzani
- Ura TubeSuzani (Istaravshan,Tajikistan)
- IsfaraSuzani (Isfara,Tajikistan)
- KulobSuzani (Kulob,Tajikistan)
- DarvozSuzani (Darvaz,Tajikistan)
See also
edit- Kaitag textiles,embroidery style fromDagestan
- Tush kyiz
- Pateh,embroidered wool textile from Kerman province in Iran
References
editSources and external links
edit- Guide to Suzaniby Barry O'Connell. Photographs of all types of suzanis.
- Article on suzanis
- Contemporary Uzbek suzanisby Marla Mallett. Includes details of embroidery techniques.
- "Splendid Suzanis,2003,Saudi Aramco World
- All about suzani from Central Asia
- TRC Needles entry on suzanis.