Wood carving

Ornamental treatment of wood is one of the ancient applied arts of Uzbekistan, which is passed by craftsmen from generation to generation. There are three basic styles: “bagdadi”, “islimi” and “pargoni”.

Style “bagdadi” represents geometrical patterns.

“Pargoni” is a flat- relief carving, which name originates from word “divider”.  Graver marks ornaments in the form of circles, triangles and squares by ruler and divider. The final design is marked out from these ornaments.

“Islami”- is a complicated floral pattern. First, master draws the ornament on the paper, and then, he engraves this cliché on the wood.

Different items are made from different sorts of wood. They are elm, nut-wood, plane tree, weeping willow, mulberry and apricot tree.

Nut-wood and plane tree are used in production of doors and columns, which are properly engraved. Nut-wood is also applied for miniature caskets, book holders, attire boxes, tables and pencil boxes. The weeping willow is notable for softness and used in panjara (lattice) manufacture.   This ware is composed from a number of small patterns not more than 1 centimeter without glue and nails.

Musical instrument are made from mulberry wood.  Linden wood and apricot are used for incrustation and decoration.

All wood’s sorts are treated with baking before use, i.e. they are placed in a dry and warm room for a long time. Presently, Uzbek craftsmen have reached a truly mastership in graving art. There are different schools of wood carving, such as: Khorezm, Fergana, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Master used more than 20 kinds of cutters to realize their complicated techniques.

This applying art is closely linked with a life style of Uzbek people. Delightful work in architecture, buildings decor and life items could be found everywhere.