Home decoration and garden stores Uzbekistan

Rakhmon's family invites you in its traditional house to discover the art of making suzanis. Her daughter Nasiba masters no less than 14 types of embroidery stitches and gives demonstrations lasting about 45 minutes! Rakhmon, on the other hand, designs the patterns and dyes the fabrics to give them the bright colours so particular to natural materials. A unique opportunity to discover this art so typical of Uzbekistan. Dining on site to combine gastronomic and artistic discovery is also a great experience.

Shavkat Boltaev makes superb shots exposed at the bottom of this small caravanserai. Ninety per cent of his work is about Bukhara, but there are also many photographs from Surkhandarya or other parts of Uzbekistan and sometimes the work of other equally talented photographers. The themes explored range from portraits of Jews and aksakals of Bukhara to the Gypsy populations, and sketches of the monumental settings of the Silk Road stage cities. But it's the beautiful portraits that catch the eye.

Ikhtior carpets are made with love and concern for quality. Cotton, wool and silk are in the spotlight, Bukharian, Turkmen, Iranian and Afghan carpets... The most beautiful pieces can take more than a year of work! Ikhtior will never sell you a carpet on the sly, without taking the time to detail its origin and symbolism. Representing the sixth generation of craftsmen in his family, he obviously knows all the tricks of the trade... weaving!

This small silk factory has taken over the cells of the Yaquboy Khodja Madrasa. You will be able to follow the manufacturing process and watch the dyeing of the silk threads and then observe the making of fabrics or suzanis. In several places in the courtyard have been arranged the different products used to make silk: cocoons, threads, natural dyes, which you can touch and discover. The quality is not as good as in the Ferghana valley and the prices reflect the little competition around. Take time to negotiate.

In this shop you will find beautiful pieces of precious or semi-precious metals finely chiselled by Shavkat, a master goldsmith who works with passion and talent to give everyday objects a unique lustre and value. Dishes decorated with geometric patterns or historical or traditional scenes (whose symbolism you will be explained) are true works of art of extreme precision, which sometimes require weeks of work.

In Bukhara, Gulah is nicknamed "Madam 200%" because of her intransigence when it comes to choosing the pieces of silk with which she makes her products. Scarves and silk fabrics in shimmering colours or pashminas of excellent quality, dyed with natural materials exclusively. The prices are reasonable and the choice is large enough for everyone to find a scarf for their neck... Besides silk products, there is also a whole range of small, equally attractive cotton souvenirs at more affordable prices.

Davlat owns a tiny shop, the size of which is inversely proportional to his talent! Superb miniatures illustrating historical, religious or folkloric themes are lined up on the walls in different formats and on different supports. Sometimes Davlat does some work on tissue paper or pages recovered from 400 or 500 year old books! Unmissable, and you can also visit his school, located a few dozen meters away.

Davron makes beautiful miniatures and watercolours in his shop at the exit of the hatters' bazaar, and will be able to tell you all the secrets of composition of his works. Internationally recognized, he has often exhibited in Europe and is the subject of a subject in the prestigious magazine Connaissance des Arts in February 2016. His two sons and his wife officiate at his side in their respective disciplines (watercolour, oil and papier-mâché). A visit to his workshop is recommended.

Shavkat makes beautiful decorative objects out of carved and ornamented wood. Boxes, book rests of all sizes cut from pieces of plane tree, walnut or apricot. Craftsmanship, with beautiful finishes and attractive prices. The workshop being located in the shop, you will be able to detail Shavkat's work and tools at your leisure before making your final choice. There really is something for every taste and budget.

Discover how these articulated and manipulated two or three finger puppets are made. Zozo, who learned everything from Iskander, makes a complete presentation, from raw papier-mâché to painted collector's items adorned with reproductions of traditional and folk costumes. You will find in the shop a small museographic part presenting the techniques, their evolution and photographs of shows at different periods.

Elyor is a talented cabinetmaker, from a family that has been working with wood for 6 generations. He possesses an extremely fine technique which makes him a true miniaturist woodcarver. His shop is small and leaves him little room to exhibit, but he can make furniture, doors, chess or backgammon games in unique pieces with an extremely safe mastery. Do not hesitate to contact his wife Nasiba (herself daughter of Rakhmon, the king of suzani!) before your visit, she is perfectly French-speaking.

Coming from a family of blacksmiths, of which he represents the 7th generation, Samdjon works brilliantly with metals. Embroidery or stationery scissors, Damascus swords, kitchen or hunting knives: it's impossible not to find what you're looking for! The handles are made of mulberry, walnut, beef bone or gazelle horn. For the robustness of his blades, he works from valves of old Soviet cars, which he says is the best raw material.

This craftsman embodies the sixth generation of ceramists in his family and has organised his house around the workshop, kiln, showroom and shop. His work is recognized throughout Uzbekistan and protected by UNESCO. This dynasty of craftsmen actually works according to a unique ancestral technique. You can admire the products in the small "branch" opened in Bukhara on the left between the bazaar of hatters and jewellers.

Between the bazaar of chapeliers and that of jewellers, the best blacksmith in the city, and said in Uzbekistan. Djurajon is a blacksmith who manufactures beautiful crafts: knives with wooden sleeve of mulberry or goat legs, stork scissors and other objects. Born from a family of blacksmiths, his brothers also hold similar shops in Bukhara, one between the second and third cupola, the second in the third dome.

The master Ermat Yaxshiyev has retired, but before that he took care to pass on all his knowledge to his daughters Firuza and Istat, who are taking up the torch with talent in this beautiful shop entirely dedicated to embroidered panels. The choice is much greater than in other shops, and you will find the full range of sizes and qualities that will allow you to find the suzani that suits your wallet. The most interesting thing is to talk to Firuza, who will teach you how to "read" the suzanis according to their origin.

The years go by and we still like to stop in this little shop. Is it the freshness distilled by the old walls; the warmth of the welcome of Rushana, a figure in the small world of Bukharian craftsmanship where she has officiated since the youngest age; or the natural colours of the carpets from Bukhara, Iran or Turkmenistan that adorn the floors and walls of the unique room? Come in, discuss, negotiate, you will leave here with a smile and a beautiful memory.

Carpet lovers, to buy or to look, here is the address where you must absolutely go. Sabina has the largest selection of oriental carpets in town! Piled up by size, style and provenance, you will find silk carpets from Bukhara of course, but also very beautiful silk carpets from Qom in Iran, Turkmen nomadic carpets, wool and velvet chiraz... Sabina is inexhaustible on the subject and proves to be a typical Bukharian trader: smiling, reliable and... hard to negotiate! A nice meeting and a nice purchase, for sure!

Shavkiddin comes from a long line of blacksmiths, which already extends through his son, Sardor, who embodies the next generation of this craft so developed in Bukhara. Shavkiddin has beautifully arranged his workshop as a small museum, where he exhibits tools and machines used by his forefathers as well as his own forge, where he can be seen exhibiting his talent. Finely decorated embroidery scissors in the shape of birds, knives with metal or bone handles... Very nice work.