Walls Draped in Silk
Bokhara, Uzbekistan 2012
A young artisan sits in one of the many (once more than 170) madrassas in Bokhara. A hundred years ago, the madrassas served as seminaries for future imams but now they house workshops for artisans. All of Bokhara’s madrassas, trade centers and markets are constructed of a pale brick, the color you see in this photo. At sunrise and sunset the bricks gleam a golden hue contrasting with the deep turquoise tiles that cover many domes and towers.
Here a young woman embroiders in silk. She has the choice of sitting indoors in a small room, once a student’s cell, or outside in the madrassa’s atrium. The atrium is open to the sky and often there is a tree planted in the center. It’s a lovely place to study, work or sip tea.
The skeins of silk hanging helter-skelter on the walls are not there for decoration. The wet silk has been flung onto the walls and will hang there until it is dry. Then it will fall to the ground and be ready for use in embroidery or weaving.
To explore Bokhara, contact: www.uzbekjourneys.com. Penelope is an expert on the region and will plan your visit to suit your special interests.