Lot Essay
Sometimes called the "national fabric" of Uzbekistan, Ikat textiles are highly recognizable and cherished for their vibrant colors and organic designs. Central Asian Ikats were woven primarily in the Ferghana Valley, historically an important region along the Silk Road due to its prolific output of silkworm harvesting, silk spinning, dyeing and production. Only the warps are dyed in the characteristic bold yellow, fuchsia, indigo and green with the master weaver incorporating the design onto the warp strings. The warps are then interwoven with the undyed wefts to create the overall design. In some exceptional pieces, the wefts are dyed as well to create an intricate, saturated design. The influence of Turkoman weavings and Uzbeki Suzani embroideries can be seen on Ikat panels and clothing and some believe that the designs are actually highly abstracted images.