PROBABLY BUKHARA, UZBEKISTAN, 19TH CENTURY

This susani marries the rigid serrated-leaf grid of Bukhara with the skilful exuberance and intense field of the Shakhrisabz region. The layout, with its profuse embroidery and ‘four-and-one’ design although typical of the Shakhrisabz area of southern Uzbekistan are also seen in examples attributed to Kermina such as susanis formerly in the Vok Collection which sold at Rippon Boswell, Wiesbaden, 11 April 2015, lot 7 and 12 March 2016, lot 138 and finally toanother, attributed to the same region which sold at Christie’s, South Kensington, 9 October 2015, lot 218. However, whilst the Bukharan couch stitch used across our piece would contradict a firm Sharkhrisabz or Kermina origin the use of light blue, yellow, aubergine in the large blossoms would encourage a Bukharan attribution.