Khiva Khorezm Woodcarving and Traditional Crafts
Discover the crafts of Khorezm — the distinctive woodcarving tradition that produced the elaborately decorated columns, doors, and screens of Khiva's mosques and palaces, the silk weaving of the oasis, and the embroidery and jewelry of the Uzbek and Turkmen communities of the Khorezm region.
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Woodcarving Workshop Masters
The woodcarving workshops of Khiva — the craftsmen continuing the Khorezm tradition of producing the elaborately decorated columns, doors, and architectural elements for which the region has been famous since the 17th century, the designs carved with chisels on mulberry and elm wood, the geometric and floral patterns covering every surface.
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Carved Column Production
The production of carved wooden columns — the signature element of Khorezm architecture visible in the Djuma Mosque and the khan's palaces, the columns carved with interlacing vegetal motifs and geometric bands, the turning of the column shaft and the individual carving of the capital requiring specialized skills maintained in family workshops.
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Silk Weaving Khorezm
The silk weaving tradition of Khorezm — the ikat-dyed silk fabrics produced in the region using the tie-dye resist technique applied to the warp threads before weaving, the distinctive blurred-edge patterns of Khorezm ikat different from the Fergana Valley style, the fabric used for traditional robes and sold to collectors internationally.
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Suzani Embroidery Tradition
The suzani embroidery of Khorezm — the large embroidered textile panels worked in silk on cotton backing, the bold circular medallion designs and the dense floral patterns characteristic of the Khorezm suzani style, the embroideries traditionally produced by brides as part of their dowry and now produced for the craft market.
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Jewelry Silver Craft
The silver jewelry craft of the Khiva region — the heavy silver pendants, earrings, and bracelets characteristic of Uzbek and Turkmen traditional dress, the pieces set with carnelian, turquoise, and glass, the silversmithing workshops in the bazaar producing both traditional pieces for local customers and tourist-market items.
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Craft Apprenticeship System
The craft apprenticeship system of Khiva — the traditional master-student relationship through which the woodcarving, silk weaving, and embroidery skills are transmitted, the craft schools established since Uzbek independence working alongside traditional family transmission to maintain the skills that make Khiva's crafts internationally recognized.