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