Straw art and ceramics: 5 traditional Uzbekistan crafts to try and buy

Straw art (Atabek Yuldashev)

Unlike straw art in other countries, which is created by weaving straw together, Uzbek artisans soak wheat, oat or rye straw in water, slice it and iron it flat. They then create marks and shadows with burn marks in a technique known as pyrography to form folk scenes and landmarks.

Where to buy straw art in Uzbekistan? Browse straw art, handmade paper and carvings at Naqshband Craft Centre, just north of Bukhara, then take a workshop with a straw artist. From £25; day trip withBTLES Tours£220-£235 (from April 2022).

Rishtan has produced ceramics since the 7th century (Shutterstock)

Prized for its red clay, Rishtan in the Fergana Valley has been producing ceramic tiles, teapots and tableware since the 7th century. Once fired, the pieces are painted with flowers, pomegranates, fish and birds then glazed with quartz and ash from the endemic ishkor plant – which gives them their distinctive blue colour.

Where to buy ceramics in Uzbekistan? Make a tile at Akbar Rakhimov’s workshop on Kukcha Darboza Street (entry £8-£13, workshop £18-£22) in Tashkent, or a ceramic cup at Rishtan Art Ceramics Factory in Rishtan; £5-£15 or £161-£213 on a day trip withSilk Road Treasure Tours.

Skullcaps are an important part to Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage (Shutterstock)

Made from silk or satin, then embroidered with silk or gold thread, the tubeteika skullcap often features tassels by each ear. Popular across Central Asia, tubeteikas are part of Uzbekistan’s national dress and today they are valued as the country’s intangible cultural heritage.

Where to buy skullcaps in Uzbekistan? Observe 3,000 women embroider tubeteikas, tapestries and more by hand and on machines in Sharq-Guli, a factory in Tashkent. Visit with a local guide and enquire about workshops.

Puppet making has undergone a revival in the 19th century (Advan Tour)

Glove puppets and marionettes have been popular since the 1300s. Usually made with a clay or papier-mâché head, the male characters wear turbans and robes, while the females wear ikat-dyed dresses and feature black hair and rosy cheeks. Puppet making declined in the 19th century, but the art has undergone a revival in the past 20 years.

Where to buy puppets in Uzbekistan? In Khiva, watch the State Puppet Theatre with Advan Tour. To make a 15cm puppet yourself, visit Bukhara Artisan Development Centre in Bukhara. Nearby Lyabi House Hotel can organise guides. Theatre £7; workshop £25; puppets £25-£150.

Suzani hang on walls in homes across Uzbekistan (Yulduz Mamadiyorova)

Hand-embroidered silk tapestries – known as suzani – hang on walls in homes across Uzbekistan. They are also given to newlyweds, as it’s believed that they protect from evil and encourage fertility. Mothers pass on patterns and techniques to their daughters. Red and white colours are most common, with mythical firebirds representing happiness, cornflowers representing men and poppies for girls.

Where to buy tapestries in Uzbekistan? In Tashkent, buy suzani at the Museum of Applied Arts. Watch needleworkers at Khiva Silk Workshops (khiva.info) and embroider a scarf with Yulduz Mamadiyorova in Shakhrisabz; £23-£25 with Silk Road Treasure Tours.