BEAUTIFUL FLORAL EMBROIDERY (SUZANI) Probably Bukhara, Uzbekistan, mid-19th century Polychrome silk threads (pink, orange, fuchsia, midnight blue, light blue, fir worm and sage) on cotton canvas made up of four strips, the centre occupied by a series of lozenges, each containing a rosette, the borders embroidered with a sinuous scroll of large composite flowers, the outer edge decorated with a small floral garland, the reverse edges covered with an ikat, corrosion of some threads, the preparatory drawing visible in places, good condition overall. Size: 175 x 122 cm A Fine Embroidery (Suzani), Probably Bukhara, Uzbekistan, 19th century Suzani" textiles are the work of the Uzbek and Tajik peoples living between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, a region that today forms part of the borders of modern Uzbekistan. These extraordinary textiles in shimmering colours were originally embroidered for young women's trousseaux. They were probably used as bedspreads, as suggested by the symbols of fertility and good fortune often present in the decoration. The decoration on our suzani, whose edge is decorated with a meander of large circular flowers, is similar to examples from the Bukhara region. Two similar examples are in the Textile Museum in Toronto (T2005.14.1) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (82-1896).