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Embroidered Textile with Prayer Niche (suzani with mihrab)

Embroidered Textile with Prayer Niche (suzani with mihrab)

Uzbec or Tadjic tribes of Central Asia, 1800-1899

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Embroidered Textile with Prayer Niche (suzani with mihrab)

Uzbec or Tadjic tribes of Central Asia, 1800-1899

Physical Qualities Cotton, silk, 115 1/2 × 69 1/4 in. (293.4 × 175.9 cm.)
Credit Line The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object Number 1950.1986.13
Large hanging or prayer mat embroidered in colored silks. Features large abstract floral roundels with leaf-like surrounds arranged in an architectural framework around a plain mihrab (prayer niche). Colors include violet-red, blue, gold, green, black, terracotta brown. Small floral pendant is suspended from top of mihrab. Not lined. Border on reverse is bound in multicolored silk (?) ikat. Also known as Bokhara. See Clabburn, p. 33.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1950; Etta Cone, Baltimore, Maryland
A Modern Influence: Henri Matisse, Etta Cone, and Baltimore
1. Pamela Clabburn, "The Needleworker's Dictionary," NY: William Morrow & Co., Inc, 1976, p. 33

2. Yevsey Levinsteyn, "Unraveling Central Asian Embroidery," "Hali," Vol. 4, Nov. 2, 1981, pp. 152-153.

3. Michael Franses and Robert Pinner, "Large Medallion Suzani from South-West Uzbekistan," "Hali," Vol. 1, No. 2, Summer 1978, pp. 128-133.

4. Loretta N. Staples, "Textile Masterworks from the Yale University Art Gallery," 1981, p. 37.

5. David Lindahl, "Uzbek," Switzerland, n.d., pp. 61-67.

6. "Tent & Town: Rugs and Embroideries from Central Asia," The H. McCoy Jones Collection, The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, Nov. 1982-Feb. 1983.

7. Cathryn M. Cootner, "Suzani: Gardens of Paradise," "Hali," Apr. - June 1986, pp. 44-49.

8. Daniel Shaffer, "Suzani: History and Technique," "Hali," Apr. - June 1986, pp. 50-51.

Markings: Embroidered tag (silver on black ground) "Claribel Cone" sewn to upper right hand corner of the reverse side. Lower right corner of mihrab in black ink : (see Accession Worksheet in file) 1--07 1-0 (marks not very legible). Lower right corner of djoinamaz in brown ink: "445" and "I55" (not completely legible)

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