Samarkand Silk Carpet Workshop

Overview

Samarkand's Silk Carpet Workshop is a family-run atelier where visitors can watch master weavers create traditional Uzbek silk and wool carpets by hand. The workshop produces both classic Timurid-pattern carpets and modern designs using natural dyes derived from pomegranate, walnut, and indigo. The showroom displays finished carpets for sale.

Highlights

• Master Weavers at Work: Watch artisans tie thousands of knots per day on floor looms.
• Natural Dyeing Process: Demonstrations of silk dyeing with traditional plant-based pigments.
• Finished Carpet Gallery: A showroom with carpets ranging from small prayer rugs to room-sized masterpieces.

History

Samarkand has been a centre of silk production since the Sogdian era, when the city sat at the crossroads of the Silk Road's main east-west routes. Carpet weaving traditions were formalized under Timur, who imported artisans from Persia. Family workshops have maintained these techniques through Soviet collectivization and beyond.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: There is no pressure to buy — the workshops welcome visitors who simply want to watch.
• Tip 2: If purchasing, ask about shipping options; most workshops can arrange international delivery.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.