Suzani with floral sprays
Unknown Artist
1800–1850
Medium
Cotton: plain weave, 6 strips; silk: embroidery; filling stitch: kanda xajol, occasionally bosma; outlining stitch: ilmoq
Dimensions
227.3 × 177.8 cm
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of John and Fausta Eskenazi in honor of Louise W. Mackie and in celebration of the museum’s centennial
Accession Number
2016.89
About this artwork
Embroidered textiles were essential items in dowries. This type, known as a suzani after the Persian and Tajik word for needle, suzan, were created by mothers and daughters who proudly displayed them during wedding festivities and special occasions. This is an especially striking example, probably embroidered in Shakhrisyabz, located south of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, during 1800–1850. Suzani were made for numerous functions including the nuptial bed, curtains for storage niches, and wrappers for...