A large medallion suzani, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, 18th century

Rippon Boswell, Wiesbaden, 24 May 2008, lot 176

In 1978, in their seminal article on large medallion suzanis, Michael Franses and Robert Pinner wrote “although the embroidery is coarse, the patterns are so complex and intricate that the total impression is of strength and importance” (Franses and Pinner 1978, p. 132). At that time, only 8 large medallion suzanis had been recorded, a number that rose to 54 in Franses’ re-examination of the subject in 2000 (see Franses 2000) and now stands at approximately 70 recorded examples. Each addition to this select group presents a brazen needlework tour de force, a graphic appeal that reaffirms Franses and Pinner’s above statement.

In his 2000 monograph, Franses divided the designs of large medallion suzanis into 10 differing sub-group (design groups A-J, with a further group of 3 ‘unique examples’, see the note to the following lot in the present sale.) The present example fits within Franses' design group A, which comprised 22 examples at the time of writing (Franses 2000, pp. 54-61). It displays a pointed hexagonal central medallion centred by concentric circles framed by ‘rams’ horn’ shaped spirals, typical of this sub-group. While each follows a similarly imposing format, they display a multitude of decorations executed in a variety of colour and are very much individuals within their group (Franses 2000, p. 54). This is true of the present suzani which displays a particularly sophisticated use of colour. The rams horn spirals around the central rosette are executed in two tones of yellow, subtly adding depth to the drawing. Moreover, tones of pink, orange and red are expertly layered together in interlocking panels within the medallion, juxtaposed against the multitude of polychrome minor motifs.

For further examples of type A large medallion suzanis at auction, see Sotheby’s, London, 6 November 2018, lot 40, Rippon Boswell, Wiesbaden, 23 November 2014, lot 161, 19 May 2007, lot 4, 25 March 2017, lot 207 (ex-collection Ignazio Vok), 11 April 2015, lot 88 (ex-collection Ignazio Vok), 29 November 2014, lot 165, 20 November 1999, lot 173, and 22^nd November 1997, lot 169, and Christie’s, New York, 17 December 1997, lot 36.