The bashers and the weaver. Bukhara.

There are several metal workshops dotted around the trading domes of Bukhara, a city renowned over centuries the skill of the artisans and blacksmiths.

No longer shoeing mules and horses, but still forging wonderful items for locals and (mainly) tourists alike

Tools of the trade

With a nod to modern equipment polishing the traditional Bukharan scissors mostly shaped like storks, a bird said to bring good luck.

As well as bashing with big hammers, there were artisans with a more delicate touch, undertaken on precious metals or soft metals such as copper.Whereby a pattern is first traced onto a suitable piece of metal

Notice the lightweight tools to be used

The material is then subjected to a mixture of embossing, repousse and chasing to form intricate designs usually floral and geometric patterns and intricate calligraphy.

Wefting and Warping

Bukhara has always been a centre for hand made fine silk and cotton items as well as heavy rugs. Though mostly done en masse on automated machinery, there still exists (for the tourists) small workshops here and there, where one can get an insight into the ancient methods.

I poked my nose in at a small silk weaving workshop, the silk-weaving technique in Uzbekistan is locally know as "ikat", it involves dyeing the silk threads before they are woven into fabric.

Often taking weeks or even months to complete a single item. Craftsmen still follow the same techniques their ancestors used, a tradition that has been passed down from father to son.

The resulting textiles are known for their bold, blurred patterns, which are highly sought after both locally and globally.