Textile in Uzbekistan. Craftsmen. Block printing

Great Silk Road existd many centures ago, not it does not any more. But we have great inheritage from that golden age. Do you know that in Uzbekistan, the Central part of the Central Asia there is a Valley that used to be Davan state. Davan was famous with its 'sky hoarses' that causes many wars between the state and China. Also many centures ago there appeared a silk centre. Till nowadays there is manual production, or weavind of the silk in Margilan town. Margilan is famous with its masters who manufacture wonderful tissues. One of the unique masters, Solijon-boboAkhmadaliev produces block-printed clothes. He is called «chitgar» – a master who decorate tissue (silk, cotton coarse calico) with qolibs – stamps, or blocks. The colours are made of natural dyes, and especial attention deserves black colour prepared by a secret recipe. Many years ago the whole quarter was in chitgar (block-printing) business. At the end of XIX centure there appeared a lot of Manufactures and the craft started dying out. Today Solijon-bobo is the only representative of Margilan block-printing school. Solijon-bobo’s works are displayed in the museums, including Tashkent Museum of Applied Arts as samples of the craft and his name is frequently mentioned in the encyclopedias and arts brochures. Want to learn more on the textiles in the Fergana Valley or in Uzbekistan? Contact certified guide Maria who will give you the answers on your questions and will be able to organise you a trip in Uzbekistan!