Wooden Printing Blocks in Central Asia in the 13th H./19th G. Century and the Early 14th H./20thG.Century (An Archaeological Artistic Study)

The museums of Uzbekistan keep several wooden printing blocks that were used for printing on textiles in the 13th H./19th G. century and the early 14th/ 20th G. century. They are an important aspect of manufacturing wooden artifacts because of having many specialized centers in the wood craft in Central Asia, especially in Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent,Khokand,Khiva and other areas. These printing blocks have different shapes, sizes, types and designs. They are decorated with many decorative elements, including floral motifs, geometric shapes, and architectural elements. Moreover, they help identify the wood industry in Central Asia at the time, in terms of technique, decoration method, engraving, and decorations. The present study aims to highlight the models of these wooden printing blocks, such as their forms, types, raw material, technique of manufacturing and decoration, decorative elements, and designs. The results may help the researchers of applied arts in Central Asia.