Bedding

Offered here is beautiful and very dramatic Suzani from Tashkent. Base is cotton fabric. Tashkent Suzani is very unique. The Tashkent Suzani used simplicity and geometric designs to create their visual effects. Often this simplicity in design created a more overwhelming effect than the detailed work of the neighbors regions. The most important element of the Tashkent Suzanis is the motif, particularly the Central Ornament that represented the moon or the Sun. In almost all Tashkent suzanis, one sees the large overwhelming round shapes. This type of suzani is named Oy Palyak, it means Lunar Firmament. Some have come to the conclusion that while most Uzbek Suzani's motifs were expressing prosperity by using flowers and vegetation the natural order of fertility, Tashkent pieces mainly gave a tribute to the Sun or Moon as Central base of fertility. The whole surface of this suzani is covered with 100% silk embroidery. This is a large roundel in the centre of the field. Around this very large central roundel are four slightly smaller medallions. The total effect is overwhelming: very few examples of this type have the same dense complexity of palette and pattern and design. It is a work of great labor, patience and skill. Excellent stitches are used here. There was a legend about the creation of Palyak suzani in Uzbekistan . Many years ago there was a magic herb called "Saxifrage" in the high mountains. It had a terrific power that could destroy even an iron sword. Saxifrage was hidden from human's eye in the high mountain valleys. Everybody wanted to know the way to find and gain its power. It is supposed that this is a map depicted on each Palyak. Palyak was a creation of Turkic craftswomen. Each woman passed the story of her husband about the Saxifrage in her needle-work. The Palyak map was passed down from generation to generation and it was hung above the couch in a bedchamber and only members of a family could see it. The mountain with Saxifrage was guarded by two snakes (that is why roundels of palyaks are surrounded with two lines). And only the bravest and strongest man could get that magic grass. That man who owned the flower of the grass could overcome any obstacles and troubles. This grass is also believed to have wonderful power in the present days. One of the reasons of it is that the decoction and tinctures prepared from it have a subversive power indeed. Nowadays, legends and stories about Saxifrage are forgotten and palyaks are embroidered with other reasons. But you may still meet old women in the villages situated in the high mountains, who will never let you in the room with a Palyak is hung, as they are afraid to discover the secret of their husbands and fathers. Condition: excellent.