Central Asia is at the heart of the ancient Silk Road trade routes -- it is the fateful land where Alexander met his bride and ultimately his death, and the location for the turbulent legends of Tamerlane and the last Khan of Khiva.The colourful history of Central Asia is matched in intensity by glorious architecture, intellectual achievement and exquisite traditional crafts in a variety of media. From among these treasures, intricate silk embroideries,costume and jewellery from the 19th and 20th centuries and glazed ceramics dating back to the 9th century are showcased in this lavishly illustrated book.
BRIGHT FLOWERS reveals, in many cases for the first time in published form, some of the spectacular and colourful embroidered textiles and glazed ceramics of Central Asia. It provides a fascinating insight into the material culture and peoples of an area which is becoming increasingly well-known to outsiders.
Central Asia is at the heart of the ancient Silk Road trade routes -- it is the fateful land where Alexander met his bride and ultimately his death, and the location for the turbulent legends of Tamerlane and the last Khan of Khiva.The colourful history of Central Asia is matched in intensity by glorious architecture, intellectual achievement and exquisite traditional crafts in a variety of media. From among these treasures, intricate silk embroideries,costume and jewellery from the 19th and 20th centuries and glazed ceramics dating back to the 9th century are showcased in this lavishly illustrated book.
The men and women of Central Asia, who now live in the independent states of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan,following some seventy years of Soviet rule, are finding their own point of balance between the traditional values and ideals to which they still steadfastly adhere and the expanding opportunities of the 21st century.Influenced by Islamic ornament and other traditional motifs, contemporary makers continue to find inspiration in the bright flowers of the oases.
Map of the region
Forewords
Introduction
CHRISTINA SUMNER
Flowers of the hearth: textiles
CHRISTINA SUMNER
BUKHARA EMBROIDERY OF THE 1800s
KORYOGDI JURAYEV[CH JUMlAEV
Textile illustrations
Flowers of the kiln: ceramics
GUT PETHERBRIDGE
THE UZBEK KULOL
AKBAR AND ALISHER RAKHIMOV
Ceramic illustrations
Selected bibliography
Acknowledgments
About the Powerhouse Museum
Index