Early 20th century

Loom Length

This example of an ikat (resist-dyed) silk features the stylized form of an oversized pomegranate sliced in half and a branch laden with the whole fruit. Such fabrics were used as wall hangings and made into clothing. The production of ikat textiles developed within the urban centers of Central Asia as they required a variety of specialized craftsmen to complete the various stages. Although women cultivated silkworms and made the silk threads, it was the men who designed, dyed, and wove the fabrics.