A person of Western lifestyle cannot stop wondering when he first comes to a traditional Uzbek house. And first of all, to the almost complete absence of furniture. A patterned carpet or nap carpet on the floor, kurpacha blankets and pillows folded in niches, a wrought-iron chest and a low table han-takhta make up almost all the decoration of the room. And even larger embroidered panels – suzanis hanging on the walls are an important part of the device and decoration of home life.

Suzani is an embroidered decorative panel of white or colored cotton fabric or silk, which is common among the peoples of Uzbekistan as an element of interior decoration. In some cases, “suzane” is a small napkin shawl, embroidered with a silk thread with a chain stitch and put under a tea set. “Suzane” was also used in the “Hammam” (according to ours – in the bath) and spread on the benches where they were resting. Another use of “suzane” among Persians and Afghans: “exhibiting” on the walls (in these Islamic countries, suzani and carpets were used like that for interior decoration).

Suzani for home décor and upholstery

In the modern world, suzanis are quite often used as decoration in a house where modern design of rooms prevails. And in this case, despite the non-coincidence of styles, that is, ethnicity + modern, suzani in the form of wall panels, or paintings, or furniture upholstery complements the modern apartments and gives a unique look.

The characteristic patterns of suzani are rosettes, flower motifs, images of birds, ancient magic symbols. These are real works of folk art accompany the life of a person from childhood to old age, form his taste, instill in him a sense of beauty. Large decorative suzani was created, as a rule, for the most solemn events in the family. Especially a lot of different embroideries were preparing for the wedding in the family of the bride, where they were an obligatory part of the dowry and represented the set necessary for the beginning of the life of the young family. Ornamental motifs served as a wish for happiness, well-being, and a symbol of fertility. The material – the basis, on which the patterns are embroidered, is cotton fabric, silk or colored fabric. The threads for embroidery itself are made from silk, wool or factory floss.

The suzani embroideries are hung in such a way that the merits of each of them are visible and at the same time harmoniously combined with each other. During the holidays, decorative embroidery occupies a special place in the design of the home. They serve as bedspreads, curtains, adorn the walls.

Thus, with decorative embroidery-takyapush cover blankets and pillows, folded during the day in large niches. Such deep niches, starting from the floor, are made in the end wall opposite the entrance. A special place is occupied by suzani, which is used as a bedspread for kurpachas, or as wall decorations. These real works of folk art accompany the life of a person from childhood to old age, shape his taste, instill in him a sense of beauty.
Large decorative suzani were created, as a rule, for the most solemn events in the family. Embroidery was given an important place in the wedding ceremony. So, Ruijo’s wedding sheet, with a pattern along three edges, was laid on the bed for the just married, the embroidery bolinpush was thrown over the pillows, and suzani was spread over the blanket.
In the art of Uzbek embroidery color plays the main role. Most of the works affect viewers by developing details on large, completely embroidered ornamental figures. And this development is conducted by color, which repeatedly enriches ornamental forms, rhythmically dissecting the surface of the product and turning it into a colorful decorative plane. In each individual work, you can count up to fifteen tones, which makes it possible to create a wealth of color combinations, while maintaining the unity of the overall color.
The colors of embroidery on a white background are dominated by red tones, which create a vigorous, joyous range. Red tones filled with flowers and rosettes. The leafy part of the ornament is embroidered with green threads. Stems, branches and edging of leaves – olive and light sand. This color generally corresponds to the natural color of plants and at the same time is based on the sonorous contrast of colors – red and green. Colorful combinations in embroidery can be built on the contrast of yellow and purple, orange and blue, red and blue, green and orange, black and white. At the same time, in embroidered products you can find shades of the same color next to you, for example, combinations of light blue and cornflower blue, light yellow and golden, dark and light crimson. This range of colors can be combined with furniture and walls of any color, since each color has its own range of combinations with other shades.

On some embroideries, a stylized feminine silver jewelry with pendants was reproduced – a tumor. Just as the tumor case itself was worn with prayer as a talisman, so its image on embroidery possessed magical powers. Today, suzani is considered to be not only just a cloth or a veil that carries a special meaning in itself, suzani today is one of the types of decorating rooms, furniture, curtains, dishes and much more. In this case, suzani can be sewn by your own wish, and using the other types of fabrics, for example, silk or satin.
Nowadays suzani as upholstery is used more and more often. After all, the patterns and depicted figures in suzani carry with them a certain character that unites and complements the interior of the house. Sofas, chairs or just bedspreads can be combined with the color of the wallpaper, which can also have some suzani patterns. They complement, reinforce each other and serve to create a single harmonious decorative artistic work.

Uzbek hand embroidery is a mighty branch on the tree of folk art. The ancient mythological symbols of suzani ornaments, inspired by the imagination of the skilled workers, personify the continuity of old traditions and the poetic soul of the people.