While examples of ikat costume a nd hangings were acquired by both Russian colonists and visiting Europeans during the 19th and early 20th centuries, these purchases were usually made as part of wider selections intended to be representative of either local industry or ethnology.
In spite of being included in the many early exhibitions of Central Asian material culture that were presented throughout the Russian empire, ikat never seemed to attract the passion that was aroused by suzani embroideries or the famous Turkmen carpets.
One observer, for instance, left an account of his visit to a Russian officer in Samarkand who, alongside his military duties, was able to find time to pursue his passion for rugs: “Like in the first room, in the rest of them there were carpets, carpets and carpets. Especially in the sitting-room: this high and spacious room is covered all over with carpets. Walls, niches, ottomans, folding stools, window-sills, floor – everything had carpets on it. It was soft, somber, tender, soundless, one feels like lolling about a bit. Indigenous shields, sabers, jars… and other trifles are very nicely arranged everywhere”.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "The Cultural legacy of Uzbekistan in private collections of the USA and Canada" (volume XXXI) in the series "Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections".
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