A fragment of the very best early 19th Century Uzbek Bukhara quality Ikat. Fully saturated with 6 or 7 colours. Probably from a wall hanging.

Examples such as this are prized for their complex designs incorporating multiple richly saturated colours. The highly skilled process of pre-dying tightly bound bundles of silk thread before weaving the cloth on narrow hand looms creates the characteristic blurred transition between colours. It's thought Ikat production started in Uzbekistan around the period this fragment dates to and is of the very best quality - comparable examples can be found in museum collections.

The fragment was most likely originally woven as part of a 'Pardah', or wall hanging, and has since been cut down and backed with block printed cotton.

Could be stretched onto a fabric backed frame or made up as a pillow.

References:

Goldman collection plates 17, 38, 39

Colours of the Oassi (Megali collection) plate 92