Block printing has a long history in western Central Asia. Russian experts claim that Uzbek form of this craft is unique and that examples of block printing excavated from local archaeological sites pre-date the Christian era. Proved is the long tradition as well by fragments of printed fabrics which were found in Tamerlane’s wife (Bibi Khanum) tomb out of the 14th century (Samarkand/Uzbekistan).
Block printing was basically a family business carried out by men to whom the hand-carved blocks (kolib) and dye recipes were handed down through generations.
The printing was done with wooden blocks (kolib), carved by kolibkor from well-seasoned poplar, walnut, or, when especially fine lines were required, from pear wood. After craving – experienced kolibkor’s need about a month to crave one stamp -, the blocks were boiled in sheep’s fat to seal them.
The cloth, mainly hand-woven cotton, was prepared by soaking it in a mordant (metallic salt used to fix natural dyes) then printed with blocks dipped in the dye staff. This required a lot of experience and precision work, because a stamp was rarely larger than A5 format and each pattern had to find carefully the next print.
By 1926 block printing in the traditional manner died out in Uzbekistan due to the development and popularity of manufactured cloth.
We, as Human House, are proud to keep our national treasure alive. In our small workshop located in the old part of Tashkent city in a historical house, which was reconstructed with the support of UNESCO, we produce this unique scarf.
We are strictly using only natural dyes, such as ruyan (red/Uzbek plant), indigo (blue), walnut (brown), pomegranate (rose tones), mulberry(violet nuances) and onion peel (reddish-yellow) for dying the fabric (buz).
The ornaments – mainly floral motifs, such as “Anor gul” (pomegranate), “Tol Bargi” (willow leave), “Kyzyl gul” (rose), “Shoch” (branch/sprig) - are printed by hand with a paste of blackening crashed fruits (mauzy) added on the kolib.
After printing, we wash the scarf and hang it in the sun to bleach out those areas not treated with the mordant and for drying.
We hope you will always enjoy wearing this wonderful master piece of 100% Cotton.
When you need to wash this scarf, please do it by hand wash only and add up some salt or simple vinegar in the last washing process to keep the color brilliance.
Please note by buying this unique handmade product you enable us to keep our traditions alive under FAIR TRADE conditions, without kid labor and support our ambitions to move on with our investments in future traditional & social projects.
