3-for-Tuesday

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Russian Textiles, printed cloth for the bazaars of central Asia by Susan Meller as a Christmas gift. This book is brimming with beautiful textiles.


Right now, these robes keep catching my eye.

Women's Munisak. Khiva (Khorezm region), early twentieth century.
Adras ikat, lined with Russian printed cotton. 47" x 54".

Roller printed cotton cloth. Russia, early twentieth century.
This was an expensive fabric to print. It required eight copper rollers (one for each color).

Women's Munisak (shown inside out).
Probably Uzbek, late nineteenth- early twentieth century.

Chartreuse handwoven silk, lined with four different Russian printed cottons, 47" x 60"

Roller Printed Cotton Cloth.
Russia, late nineteenth - early twentieth century

I really like the art nouveau influence in the fabric above, as well as the "meatiness" of the leaves. The combination of the sinuous lines and yellow outline, the tonal gradations, the colors- so gorgeous!

Boy's Coat. Bukhara, late nineteenth- early twentieth century.
Silk brocade (probably Russian) with metallic threads,
lined with Russian printed cotton. 30" x 42"

Roller-Printed Cotton Cloth.
Russia, late nineteenth - early twentieth century.

***All images and caption information are from Russian Textiles,
Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia.

Meller, Susan. Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia, Harry N Abrams Inc, New York, 2007.