Suzanis

What Is A Suzani?

Suzani is a form of traditional Central Asian embroidery. Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are all famous for it, with these textiles being in high demand all over the world. The word suzani comes from the Farsi word for needle or needlework.

Not all suzanis are of equal quality. At Silk Road Treasures each piece is individually handmade and we use hand-spun silk threads, dyed with natural dyes. This results in the warm and rich color tones for which these textiles are known. Not surprisingly, each piece requires hundreds of hours of needlework to make.

Suzanis are versatile and can serve as wall hangings, tablecloths, prayer mats, or even bedspreads. They are decorative and often feature elaborate floral and geometric themes.

This very skilled craft is practiced almost exclusively by women. For some of them, it becomes their livelihood, making embroidery a valued skill in Central Asia.

For further reading: What is a suzani? and the Wikipedia entry.

Divanbegi (Prime Minister)

This design comes from the front door to the Prime Minister’s Madrassah.

Price: $425.

Benaki

This design is named after the only surviving Timurid carpet fragment we know about, currently on exhibit in the Benaki Museum in Greece. As there is no border in the original fragment, we have woven it with a number of different classical Timurid borders.

Price: $165.

Hon Gul

This design is from a small ceiling in the Stone Palace.

Price: $320.