Museum of Applied Arts

Museum of Applied Arts

Museum of Applied Arts

On a quiet street in Tashkent, hidden from the noise of the city in one of the city districts, visitors notice a building with a traditional Uzbek "Ayvan" terrace, decorated with beautifully carved columns. This is the applied arts museum. It is located in the building, the construction of which was built by Alexander Polovtsev. The order was given by one of the wealthy Tsarist diplomats in the Turkestan office, the Governor General. In addition to the existing Ayvan terraces, the building has still retained its original main hall, where ceremonial receptions are held. These two constructions themselves are the main attractions of the museum. Their walls and ceilings are decorated with antique "Ganch" stucco carvings and colored patterns. Especially interesting is the eye-catching animal ceiling with stalactite cornices in the central hall. This splendor is decorated with "Khon-Takhta" tables with carvings and paintings, as well as other pieces of furniture made by Uzbek artisans at the end of the 19th century. The other halls of the museum show the work of the best craftsmen, schools and styles of the 19th to 20th centuries. Here the museum visitors can see the "blue ceramics" from Rishtan and Gurumsaray, as well as important ceramics from Shahrisabz, Khiva, Gijduvan and Tashkent. You can still see samples of the carpets and embroidery, including examples of the famous Bukhara gold embroidery. A special room in the museum is dedicated to the exhibition of fabrics and a wide range of national clothing, including handmade headgear. There is also a section for traditional Uzbek musical instruments that are intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl, silver and fretwork in precious woods. The museum regularly represents the art of the country's best craftsmen at trade fairs with a performance show. This is what sets this museum apart from other museums in the city.

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