Suzani (large hanging or cover)
1840/1890
Medium
Cotton, plain weave, embroidered with silk
Dimensions
221 × 168.9 cm (87 × 66 1/2 in.)
Classification
embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
248380
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Densely embroidered with colorful silk threads, this lush hanging or cover exemplifies suzani textiles produced during the latter half of the nineteenth century in eastern Uzbekistan, particularly near the oasis cities of Bukhara and Kokand. Art historians and collectors use the term "suzani" to describe a family of embroidered textiles made in Central Asia by urban dwelling Uzbek and Tajik women. During the nineteenth century, young women in particular embroidered hangings and covers as well as...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...