Polychrome Embroidered Suzani with Floral Motifs

This fascinating textile is actually two suzani in one. It is not known when, but at some moment, someone stitched together fragments from two different suzani to create this piece. Looking closely, it is evident that the seven silk fragments that make up the central field, with its tulip, rosette, and paisley motifs, came from one suzani. The surrounding cotton border comes from a different suzani. When reconstructed, the border fragments form the shape of an arch, not unlike the arched suzani (85.55).