Cover or Hanging (Suzani), Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, 1800s. Cotton worked in silk embroidery; 66 x 47 in. Neusteter Textile Collection at the Denver Art Museum: Funds from Neusteter Institute Funds and Mr. and Ms. Lawrence J. Phipps, Jr. by exchange, 2002.3.

length: 66 in, 167.6400 cm; width: 47 in, 119.3800 cm

"17639" sewn on back

Avenir Institute of Textile Arts and Fashion

Textile Arts and Fashion-Asian

This object is currently on view

Vividly embroidered cloths were an essential part of a Central Asian bride's dowry. Known as a suzani (from the Persian word suzan, meaning needle), they were made by female relatives and friends and vary in size according to their intended use, from large wall hangings to small cushion covers. The bold red rosettes are thought to represent poppies, while the palmettes, considered the flower of the pomegranate, symbolize fertility. When displayed throughout the home, these textiles create a virtual garden.

Lady Foster Collection, London, UK, before 2001; purchase, (Esther Fitzgerald Rare Textiles), London, UK, 2001; purchased by the Denver Art Museum, 2002.

• "Fabulous Floral Fabrics," November 23, 2002 - May 4, 2003 (DAM)
• "Cover Story," May 17, 2013 - April 27, 2014 (DAM)