suzani uzbekistan early 20th century silk on cotton 300 x 220 cm although belonging to the production of non-nomadic populations, suzanis (silk embroideries on a cotton or silk ground) often have symbols linked to the shamanistic iconography of nomads. long strips were woven by different women and then sewn together. the young uzbek girls had to have at least ten suzanis as part of their wedding dowry, and as these were neither hereditary nor to be given away, they had to be especially embroidered for each wedding.