How to decorate with suzanis: 15 ideas from our archive
Textiles impart pattern, warmth and texture to interiors, whether they are simple and understated or colourful and highly decorative. There should be room for both kinds in any space, and if you want to move beyond these and layer in some fantastic, fantastical textiles then a suzani is a wonderful way to do that.
The textile dealer Susan Deliss has specialised for many years in suzanis, and frequently uses them in her decorative schemes. Although the word “suzani” has become a somewhat generic term for central Asian embroidered textiles, listening to Susan talk about them for just a short while makes you realise just how fascinating they are. They have their own history, motifs, colours and stitches, and in short, they are worth getting to know a bit better. Susan’s showroom in Notting Hill is lined with boxes of exquisite textiles of all ages and appearances, and it is a joy to watch her pull out example after example and to hear the story of each piece.
“A suzani,” says Susan, is “a piece of needlework with a particular geographical heritage. Suzanis are, by tradition, from central Asian countries: Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan – and Uzbekistan where most of the good work comes from. The name comes from the Persian word suzan, which means needle.” Suzanis were used for all sorts of things: seating, wall coverings, wrappings and prayer mats. They were traditionally made by women before they married and then presented to the groom on the wedding day, representing the coming together of two families.
These textiles are part of the region's folk art heritage, based on centuries-old patterns and sewing traditions that have been passed down through families. Most of the suzanis we see for sale are survivals from the mid-19th century onwards, although the making of them goes back far beyond that. Susan sells many suzanis that are new but made using traditional methods. They are often, regrettably, the sort of textiles other people sell as “antique” or #vintagesuzani. But they are selling modern textiles, often made with synthetic threads. A proper antique suzani, from the 19th century, could cost you (probably at auction) upward of £5,000 and nearer £10,000. You would probably hang such a suzani on the wall, should you be lucky enough to have one, as they are valuable enough to be considered as an artwork, and might not stand up to everyday wear and tear if you choose to use them for upholstery. Christie’s have a nice, succinct page about antique suzanis, complete with glorious examples you could invest in.
A more modern and authentic suzani, covered in good embroidery, might cost you around £1,000-£1,500, but it will start its life off with you and you won't need to worry so much about its fragility. Suzanis are very often large cloths, embroidered on cotton (occasionally silk) that has been woven on a traditional loom. In order to make larger suzanis, two or three panels of cotton might be sewn together. After this, traditionally, a “master” will draw the pattern design on the cotton in pen. The panels are then separated, embroidered and put back together (sometimes you can see slight breaks in colour, or abrash, where two different panels of embroidery have been re-joined). A suzani embroidery would traditionally have been worked on by one family, the embroidery done with cotton or silk thread. There are only a few stitches used on a traditional suzani – chain, satin and buttonhole stitches – to work across the whole of the cloth.
Suzanis can have different motifs depending on where they come from, and as you start to look at the different types, so you start to develop an eye for those differences. A suzani from Shakhrisabz in Uzbekistan might be covered with large flowers and wandering, curling leaf forms, where a suzani from Pushkent might have crimson star medallions across it. Other motifs include sun and moons, tulips, carnations and pomegranates.
As with any textile, buying what you like most is an important first criterion, as Susan Deliss notes. Beautiful modern suzanis are now being made in muted colourways for anyone who struggles with the idea of putting bold textiles into their home. Traditional suzanis are bold and extravagant, yet even so they fit in well with all sorts of interior schemes and can be used in lots of different ways. In her French home, for example, Susan shows us how to use suzanis to great effect. A suzani, once bought, will bring a contained example of patterned joy into your rooms. And if you are able to buy one from a textile storyteller like Susan, then the buying will be as satisfying as the owning.
Dean Hearne1/15A suzani curtain from the Pelican House hides a storage area in India Holmes’ hallway, and the blue in it is picked up by the Dulux paint on the walls and ‘Stiffkey Blue’ from Farrow & Ball on the stairs.
Kristin Perers2/15In a Dulwich flat decorated on a tight budget, Catherine Olley has used a suzani to inexpensively cover a large expanse of blank wall.
Lauryn Ishak3/15Interior designer Elizabeth Hay used an Uzbek suzani to upholster the ottoman in this Singaporean apartment.
Paul Massey4/15Interior designer and fabric dealer Susan Deliss can always be relied upon for a good use of a suzani. In her French country house, she had the simple headboard in the main bedroom made from an antique suzani.
Owen Gale5/15In another project, Susan Deliss has adorned the beds with suzanis. For this space, she sourced a traditional Samarkand piece.
Paul Massey6/15Interior designer Emma Grant also chooses to use a suzani as a bedspread, using one that complements the colours of the headboard and walls.
Paul Massey7/15A classic place for a suzani is draped over the back of a sofa, as seen here in Carlos Garcia’s Norfolk house. The brightly coloured example is an antique example.
Jonathan Bond8/15Bright and bold as they are, suzanis are great when used in an abundance of pattern, as seen here in Katharine Paravicini’s cottage, where she’s draped one over the back of a bench and layered patterned cushions alongside it.
Jonathan Bond9/15Elsewhere in the living room, which is full of pattern, Katharine has used a suzani to upholster an ottoman.
Owen Gale10/15In Jeremy Langmead's jewel box of a house, Susan Deliss has sourced a silk embroidered suzani for the bed.
Elsa Young12/15In a writer's flat decorated by Susan Deliss, she has covered the back of this smart green sofa with a vintage suzani. The cushions that adorn it are also made from scraps of suzanis.
Owen Gale13/15Sourced from Malabar Trading in Bridport, a suzani cushion takes centre stage in Ros Byam Shaw's 16th century house in Devon.
Ngoc Minh Ngo14/15Here, in Annabel White’s Manhattan townhouse, an ottoman from Howe has been covered in vintage suzani fabric. It is paired with a punk-inflected plaid rug by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company to brilliant effect.
