Khiva Silk Workshops
Collection: Design:

Design: Afandi Gul
Size: 0.58m x 0.57m
Date: 2006
This was one of the first tiny carpets we made.
Afandi Gul
This design comes from a door in a small side street, very near to the Carpet Workshop.
Design: Aksakal Behzad
Size: 2.38m x 1.46m
Date: 2005
Aksakal Behzad (Old Men Behzad)
Named after the group of old men sitting around the carpet, this is another of Behzad's paintings.
Design: Alti Buchek
Size: 1.85m x 1.36m
Date: 2003
Alti Buchek (Hexagon)
This design illustrates Shirin receiving a portrait of Husrov, part of an epic love story found in Nizami's Hamza.
Design: Alti Buchek
Size: 1.65m x 1.23m
Date: 2006
Design: Alti Buchek
Size: 1.3m x 1.94m
Date: 2007
Design: Arkanchi
Size: 1.2m x 1.14m
Date: 2004
Arkanchi (Rope Maker)
This design appears on an old carved wooden door now fitted into the Arkanchi hotel, founded by a rope-maker.
Design: Arkanchi
Size: 1.17m x 1.18m
Date: 2006
Design: Arkanchi
Size: 1.2m x 1.2m
Date: 2012
Design: Arzxona Tortmush
Size: 2.35m x 1.15m
Date: 2005
Arzxona Tortmush (Courtroom Square)
This design is taken from tiles in the courtyard of the Khiva Khan's Old Fortress.
Design: Bahram Gur
Size: 1.35m x 1.32m
Date: 2004
Bahram Gur
The original Timruid manuscript for this rug is now in the Royal Asiatic Collection, London, and can be viewed in their catalogue.
Design: Behzad
Size: 2.14m x 1.4m
Date: 2004
Behzad
One of the earliest demonstrations of a madallion-style in Timurid carpets, this miniature was painted by Behzad, prince of painters.
Design: Behzad
Size: 3.56m x 2.26m
Date: 2005
Design: Behzad
Size: 2.26m x 3.56m
Date: 2005
Design: Benaki
Size: 2.38m x 1.38m
Date: 2003
Benaki
This design is named after the only surviving Timurid carpet fragment we know about, currently on exhibit in the Benaki museum in Greece. As there is no border in the original fragment, we have woven it with a number of different classical Timurid borders.
Design: Benaki
Size: 1.7m x 1.16m
Date: 2004
Design: Benaki
Size: 1.77m x 1.18m
Date: 2005
Design: Benaki
Size: 1.65m x 1.17m
Date: 2006
Design: Beshik
Size: 1.68m x 1.3m
Date: 2005
Beshik (Cradle)
This design is named after the cradle sitting on the design. It is a classical Timurid carpet.
Design: Beshik
Size: 1.24m x 1.82m
Date: 2006
Design: Beshik
Size: 1.24m x 1.82m
Date: 2006
Design: Bogcha Gul
Size: 1.7m x 1.19m
Date: 2005
Bogcha Gul
This design is taken from a door to a large house in the old town.
Design: Burgut
Size: 1.98m x 1.4m
Date: 2006
Burgut
This design, named after the falconer sitting on the carpet, comes from a miniature frontispiece depicting the coronation of Amir Timur in Balkh.
Design: Divanbegi
Size: 2.08m x 1.24m
Date: 2005
Divanbegi (Prime Minister)
This design comes from the front door to the Prime Minister's Madrassah.
Design: Divanbegi
Size: 1.95m x 1.45m
Date: 2005
Design: Farkhad
Size: 1.33m x 1.7m
Date: 2004
Farkhad
This Timurid design is named after the main character in an epic Persian love story. Although the carpets are barely visible in the banqueting scene, there is enough there for us to use the design.
Design: Farkhad
Size: 1.49m x 1.25m
Date: 2006
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 0.97m x 0.76m
Date: 2006
Ghuncha Gul (Blossom Flower)
This design comes from a door found in a madrassah now used by the Red Crescent.
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 0.63m x 0.61m
Date: 2006
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 80m x 1.03m
Date: 2007
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 1.57m x 1.07m
Date: 2003
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 2.6m x 1.91m
Date: 2004
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 1.53m x 1.1m
Date: 2004
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 1.66m x 1.24m
Date: 2005
Design: Ghuncha Gul
Size: 1.74m x 1.27m
Date: 2006
Design: Harem Kopa
Size: 2.14m x 1.45m
Date: 2005
Harem Kopa (Harem Door)
This design comes from a carved door inside the Stone Palace Harem.
Design: Harem Kopa
Size: 2.57m x 1.43m
Date: 2005
Design: Harem Kopa
Size: 1.37m x 2.28m
Date: 2007
Design: Holbein
Size: 2.72m x 1.46m
Date: 2005
Holbein
This rug is actually an amalgamation of a few rugs found in Holbein paintings. Whilst the field design usually remained the same in all cases, there were small changes in the minor borders. Although woven in Anatolia, the Kufic borders display their Timurid heritage.
Design: Holbein
Size: 1.64m x 1.23m
Date: 2006
Design: Holbein
Size: 1.44m x 1.96m
Date: 2007
Design: Hon Gul
Size: 1.55m x 1.27m
Date: 2005
A visitor asked us if we could make this carpet from a photo she had taken in the Stone Palace. This is our first "ceiling" carpet.
Hon Gul
This design is from a small ceiling in the Stone Palace.
Design: Humayan
Size: 1.92m x 1.34m
Date: 2004
Humayan
This design comes from an earlier Timurid miniature, recording in lavish detail the wedding festivities of Humayan.
Design: Husrov
Size: 1.68m x 1.27m
Date: 2005
Husrov
The tragic love story of Husrov and Shirin is the Eastern equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. In this miniature Husrov meets with the Khan.
Design: Husrov
Size: 1.18m x 1.5m
Date: 2006
Design: Husrov Shirin
Size: 1.51m x 1.185m
Date: 2005
Husrov Shirin
Taken from a Timurid miniature depicting Husrov meeting Shirin.
Design: Isfandir
Size: 2.05m x 1.87m
Date: 2005
Isfandir
This classical Timurid piece comes from a miniature from the mid fifteenth century.
Design: Iskandir
Size: 1.7m x 1.36m
Date: 2003
Iskandir
This design comes from a manuscript now in posession of the Royal Asiatic Society in London.
Design: Jacob Bai
Size: 1.92m x 1.19m
Date: 2005
Jacob Bai
This design comes from the front door of the Jacob Bai Hoja madrassah, which is now our workshop!
Design: Jacob Bai
Size: 1.5m x 1.38m
Date: 2006
Design: Kar Gul
Size: 1.6m x 1.37m
Date: 2004
Kar Gul (Snow Flower)
This design is taken from tiles found in the Harem of the Stone Palace in Khiva.
Design: Kopa
Size: 1.28m x 1.21m
Date: 2003
Kopa (Door)
The design comes from the backdoor to the Feruz Khan Madrassah but also appears in various tiles and in the Stone Palace courtyard door.
Design: Kopa Tolken
Size: 1.74m x 0.785m
Date: 2004
Kopa Tolken (Door Waves)
The design comes from a carved wooden side door to the main Friday Mosque.
Design: Kopa Tolken
Design: Kopa Tolken
Size: 1.53m x 1.11m
Date: 2006
Design: Kopa Yulduz
Size: 1.93m x 1.27m
Date: 2005
Kopa Yulduz (Star)
The design comes from a carved wooden door found in the Old Fortress summer mosque.
Design: Kopa Yulduz
Size: 1.2m x 1.16m
Date: 2005
Design: Kopa Yulduz
Size: 1.2m x 1.53m
Date: 2007
Design: Kumbatcha
Size: 2.03m x 1.65m
Date: 2003
Kumbatcha (Spire)
This design is taken from the hospitality courtyard of the Stone Palace in Khiva.
Design: Kunya Ark Joy Namaz
Size: 1.14m x 0.81m
Date: 2004
Kunya Ark Joy Namaz (Kunya Ark Prayer Rug)
A prayer rug design taken from tiles in the courtyard of the Khiva Khan's old fortress.
Design: Lotto
Size: 1.78m x 1.25m
Date: 2004
Lotto
Like the Holbein rug, this design was produced in Anatolia and appears in Rennaisance paintings. Its border demonstrate its Timurid heritage. The design is the forebear of the modern and more floral ushak carpets produced in Turkey today.
Design: Majolica Joy Namaz
Size: 1.45m x 0.95m
Date: 2003
Majolica Joy Namaz (Majolica Prayer Rug)
This prayer rug design is based on tiles found in the courtyard of the Khiva Khan's old fortress.
Design: Mehmon
Size: 3m x 2m
Date: 2003
Mehmon (Guest)
The design is based on a miniature often attributed to Behzad.
Design: Mehmon
Size: 1.82m x 1.32m
Date: 2006
Design: Mirza Borg
Size: 2.56m x 1.93m
Date: 2003
Mirza Borg (Prime Minister's Garden)
The design comes from a late Timurid piece. Already the borders appear more Safavid in style.
Design: Moghul
Size: 1.81m x 1.5m
Date: 2004
Moghul
This unusual carpet appears in a 16th century Moghul miniature. Whilst the field design is clearly Timurid, the border in the miniature has been changed. We have woven it with the Alti Buchek border.
Design: Mongol
Size: 1.77m x 1.24m
Date: 2005
Mongol
This miniature depicting the funeral of Alexander the Great precedes the Timurid period and is a mongolian miniature.
Design: Narda
Size: 2.3m x 1.22m
Date: 2004
Narda (Backgammon)
Named after the game backgammon, this design is taken from a classical Timurid miniature.
Design: Narda
Size: 1.71m x 1.31m
Date: 2006
Design: Olma Gul
Size: 2.67m x 1.9m
Date: 2004
Olma Gul (Apple Flower)
This design is based on tiles found in the Harem of the Khiva Khan's Stone palace as well as numerous Madrassahs.
Design: Olma Gul
Size: 1.19m x 1.06m
Date: 2005
Design: Olma Gul
Size: 0.63m x 0.61m
Date: 2006
Design: Orta Tolken
Size: 1.86m x 1.39m
Date: 2005
Orta Tolken (Medium Wave)
This design is taken from the carved wooden door of a small mosque behind the Pahklavan Mahmud Mausoleum.
Design: Ota Darvaza
Size: 1.45m x 1.45m
Date: 2005
Ota Darvaza (Grandfather Gate)
This design appears in the first set of double doors found in the Grandfather's Gate entrance to the walled city.
Design: Ota Darvaza
This particular version of the design includes the Arab script inscribed in the original door.
Design: Ota Darvaza
Size: 1.5m x 1.47m
Date: 2006
Design: Pakhlavan Joy Namaz
Size: 1.71m x 1.14m
Date: 2004
Pakhlavan Joy Namaz (Pakhlavan Mahmud Prayer Rug)
This design is taken from tiles found in the main chamber of the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum.
Design: Pakhlavan Yulduz
Size: 2.1m x 2.05m
Date: 2004
Pakhlavan Yulduz (Pakhlavan Star)
This design is taken from the tiling found in the inner chamber of the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum.
Design: Perda Gul
Size: 2.47m x 1.58m
Date: 2005
Perda Gul (Lattice Flower)
This design comes from the lattice design found in a door leading to the Khan's harem in the Stone Palace.
Design: Perda Gul
Size: 1.33m x 1.67m
Date: 2006
Design: Pod Shox
Size: 2.46m x 1.91m
Date: 2005
Pod Shox
This miniature - the frontcover of the Turks exhibition at the Royal Academy in London - is part of the Topkapi collection in Istanbul. The rug design is unique as the border on either side of the seated Pod-Shox is different in the original miniature.
Design: Ramka
Size: 1.71m x 1.23m
Date: 2005
Ramka (Frame)
This design is based on carved wooden borders taken from a variety of doors in Khiva.
Design: Rustam
Size: 2.1m x 1.36m
Date: 2004
Rustam
Although the reclining figure of Rustam covers most of the carpet, there is just enough pattern tesselation visible for us to copy the design onto graphpaper.
Design: Said Allaudin
Size: 1.76m x 1.27m
Date: 2003
Said Allaudin
This design is taken from the tiling found on the tomb of Said Allaudin. These tiles - the oldest in Khiva - bear strong resemblence to Timurid carpet borders.
Design: Sajda Gul
Size: 1.62m x 1.22m
Date: 2003
Sajda Gul
This design is taken from a beautiful carved door inlaid with ivory and coral partitioning the inner and outer chamber of the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum.
Design: Sajda Gul
Size: 1.53m x 1.155m
Date: 2003
Design: Sajda Gul
Size: 2.12m x 1.5m
Date: 2006
Design: Shah Rukh
Size: 2.23m x 1.57m
Date: 2003
Shah Rukh
Tamerlane's son, Shah Rukh, founded the Herati school of miniature painting where this, and many other miniatures were painted. The design demonstrates a masterful use of shape and colour.
Design: Shapur
Size: 1.85m x 1.38m
Date: 2004
Shapur
A design taken from Nizami's Hamza and illustrating the love story of Husrov and Shirin. It was Shapur who introduced them to each other.
Design: Shirin
Size: 1.695m x 1.2m
Date: 2005
Shirin
Named after the heroine of Nizami's Hamza, here Shirin awaits news of her beloved Husrov. The design is classical Timurid.
Design: Tahmineh
Size: 1.92m x 1.45m
Date: 2005
Tahmineh
Another classical Timurid design
Design: Tahmineh
Size: 1.83m x 1.29m
Date: 2006
Design: Tengi Gul
Size: 1.88m x 1.45m
Date: 2005
Tengi Gul (Money Flower)
This is a classical Timurid design.
Design: Tilla Kopa
Size: 1.88m x 1.31m
Date: 2004
Tilla Kopa (Mint Door)
This design is taken from the door to the Khan's mint in the Old Fortress.
Design: Tilla Kopa
Size: 1.88m x 1.43m
Date: 2005
Design: Tilla Kopa
Size: 1.88m x 1.4m
Date: 2006
Design: Timurid Joy Namaz
Size: 1.1m x 0.85m
Date: 2004
We decided not to weave the entire communal prayer carpet, shrinking the border and using just one panel to make these smaller prayer rugs.
Timurid Joy Namaz (Timurid Prayer Mat)
This design is taken from one panel of the communal prayer carpet in this miniature.
Design: Tolken
Size: 2.91m x 2.09m
Date: 2005
Tolken
This design is based on tiles found on the walls of the Old Fortress couryard.
Design: Tolken
Size: 2.13m x 1.98m
Date: 2005
Design: Tolken
Size: 0.75m x 0.68m
Date: 2006
Design: Tolken
Size: 1.86m x 1.02m
Date: 2004
Design: Tomchi Gul
Size: 2.75m x 1.94m
Date: 2005
Tomchi Gul
This design is taken from the tiling found on the walls of the Old Fortress courtyard.
Design: Tortmush Jacob Bai
Size: 0.53m x 0.53m
Date: 2006
Tortmush Jacob Bai (Square Jacob Bai)
This design comes from the door to our Carpet Workshop!
Design: Tosh Hovli Kopa
Size: 1.94m x 1.595m
Date: 2004
Tosh Hovli Kopa (Stone Fortress Door)
This design is taken from a door in the Khan's Old Fortress.
Design: Ulug Yulduz
Size: 2.13m x 2.09m
Date: 2004
Ulug Yulduz (Big Star)
This design comes from tiles found inside the courtyard ayvan of the Stone Palace.
Design: Yulduz
Yulduz (Star)
This design appears in a number of carved wooden doors, including the front gates to the Old Fortress and the Feruz Khan Madrassah.
Design: Yulduz
Size: 1.61m x 1.31m
Date: 2006