Suzani (textile)
embroidered tribal textile made in Central Asia and Iran
Suzani is a type of embroidered and decorative tribal textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. Suzani is from Persian: سوزن, romanized: Suzan, lit. 'needle' (Tajik: сӯзан Tajik pronunciation: [sɵ.zän]). The art of making such textiles in Iran is called سوزندوزی suzandozi "needlework".
Suzanis are delicate; extremely few examples survive before the late 18th and early 19th centuries. However, they belong to a very ancient tradition. In the early 15th century, Ruy González de Clavijo, the Castilian ambassador to the court of Timur, left detailed descriptions of embroideries that were probably forerunners of the suzani.
Suzanis were traditionally made by Central Asian brides as part of their dowry, and were presented to the groom on the wedding day.
Types
Bukhara Suzani
Khujand Suzani (Khujand, Tajikistan)
Lakai Suzani
Nurata Suzani, made in the town of Nurata in Uzbekistan
Piskent Suzani
Samarkand Suzani
Shakhrisabz Suzani
Tashkent Suzani
Ura Tube Suzani (Istaravshan, Tajikistan)
Isfara Suzani (Isfara, Tajikistan)
Kulob Suzani (Kulob, Tajikistan)
Darvoz Suzani (Darvaz, Tajikistan)
See also
Kaitag textiles, embroidery style from Dagestan
Tush kyiz
Pateh, embroidered wool textile from Kerman province in Iran
References
Sources and external links
Guide to Suzani by Barry O'Connell. Photographs of all types of suzanis.
Article on suzanis
Contemporary Uzbek suzanis by Marla Mallett.
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