Uzbek artisans and masters of traditional arts are once again at the centre of global attention. Every item made by a craftsperson contains more than technique: it also carries the maker’s spirit, connection with their ancestors and love for their work. When you buy Uzbek handicrafts, whether suzani embroidery or Chust knives, you become the […]
Silk is not merely a fabric but a true art reflecting Uzbekistan’s rich history and culture. It has always occupied a special place in the country as a symbol of refinement, luxury and skill. In this article, we explain how silk cloth is created, from a tiny cocoon to magnificent lengths of fabric used in […]
Uzbek embroidery is not merely decoration but a complete language filled with symbols and profound meanings. This is especially true of headwear, which historically protected not only from sun and wind but also from evil spirits while bringing the wearer wellbeing and strength. In this article, we enter the world of patterns, interpret the symbolism […]
In the Fergana Valley lies the village of Gumsaray, where ceramics are made in a distinctive, rich sky-turquoise colour. Gurumsaray is one of Uzbekistan’s oldest centres of traditional ceramic art. In the 1970s and 1980s, Gurumsaray ceramics were represented by four masters from a single pottery dynasty: M. Rakhimov, M. Turapov, Kh. Khakimov, and Kh. […]
A tubeteika suits everyone: the grey hair of a wise elder and the braids of a bride. Even a fine young man without one at the back of his head hardly seems a true dzhigit. Folk sayings treat it with friendly affection: “A tubeteika is no burden to a dzhigit,” and “When there is no one to talk to, speak to your tubeteika.” It is worth recalling that a tubeteika is a round or pointed cap with embroidered or woven patterns, a national headdress among many peoples of Central Asia.
The people of Uzbekistan have long treated water and earth as sacred. There is no life without water beneath the hot Asian sun. The earth is the provider and the beginning of all things, for the Quran teaches that the first human was created from clay. Since ancient times, people on this land have shaped their world from clay. They built fortresses, temples and homes from sun-dried and fired bricks and baked flatbreads in clay tandir ovens.
A visitor accustomed to a Western lifestyle may be surprised on first entering a traditional Uzbek home, above all by the almost complete absence of furniture. A patterned palas or piled carpet on the floor, kurpacha mattresses and cushions stacked in niches, a forged chest and a low khan-takhta table form almost the entire interior. Large embroidered suzani panels hanging on the walls are another important part of the organisation and decoration of domestic life.
