This collection began to form in the 1930s, due to an influx from various sources. A small stone bas-relief with a Gandhara style image, for example, was brought by the famous scientist and traveller D. D. Bukinich from Bagram (Afghanistan).
There were also items from East Turkestan. However, the collection of ancient and medieval artefacts began to be systematically replenished due to archaeological research on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
These findings show us the high level of monumental forms of fine art from the period of antiquity and the early Middle Ages, and they give an idea of the ceramics and architectural decor of the 9th – 16th centuries, a s well a s of some coins. For many years, the archaeologist D. G. Zilper was engaged in the formation of the collection.
The antique and early medieval art works are represented by items from three historical and cultural regions: Bactria, Fergana and Bukharian Soghd.
You can learn more about this topic in the book-album “The Collection of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan” (Volume XIII) from the series “Cultural legacy of Uzbekistan in the world collections”.
The general sponsor of the project is the oilfield services company Eriell-Group.
