Product Description

Antique Central Asian Russian Cotton

Material: Cotton
Style: Russian
Size:  Length 341 cm, Width 83 cm
Order Number: MHSACARC1

During the 19th century industrialisation of the Russian textile industry flooded the Central Asian market.

Russian printed cotton cloth is found in the ethnic dress and household textiles of the eastern reaches of the Russian Empire, particularly Uzbekistan and other areas of Central Asia. Great quantities were also sold to Mongolia, Afghanistan, Persia and China.

Linings of central Asian textiles were also made from Russian printed cottons with their striking floral and paisley designs. Some prints were specially designed incorporating Arabic letters and featuring green. It is said that green was Mohammed’s favourite colour. He was said to have worn a green cloak and turban and his writings are full of references to green. The Quran describes paradise as a place where people ‘will wear green garments of fine silk’.

The paisley pattern uses the Persian  botah motif, a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end and a version of the ‘tree of life’. It became popular in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries, following imports from India, especially Kashmir shawls, which were introduced by the The British East India Company to England and Scotland where they were extremely fashionable. The name comes from the town of Paisley in west Scotland, a textile centre where paisley designs were produced.

19th – early 20th century.

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