This bedsheet or ruidjo was in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Ruidjo is Tadjik for bed, it is also called a choisab in Tashkent and Joipush in Bukhara.
The people of Bukhara are a conglomerate of ethnic groups, predominantly made up of Turkmen, Uzbek and East Iraning Tadjik. They refer to themselves as Bukhara first then by ethnic group. Bukhara belonged to the Khanate of Bukhara in the middle of the 19th century. This area was known as the region of Turkestan. It remained an independant Khanate after Russia had colonised other Khanates and did not fall to the Russians until 1920. After being combined with other former Khanates in the region, the area became known as the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan. It gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The ruidjo is a dowry bedsheet of widespread use throughout Uzbekistan historically and in present times. The purpose of the unembroidered mihrab-shaped areas was to reveal the soiling of the marriage night. On the morning after the marriage night the female representative of the sheet to the mother of the groom then to the family of the bride, with whom it was left for some time after the wedding. Following that period the embroidery was used to cover the pile of folded bedding or korpachah during the day in the bride's new home. Because of soiling the central portion of this ruidjo has been removed. More usually the soilded area was covered or replaced.

Embroidered bedsheet (ruidjo), cotton/silk thread, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, c.1850.
Heavy bedsheet made of thick cream cotton pieced together, the centre of the bedsheet has been removed leaving an 'arch' of fabric pieces. All-over decoration of hand embroidered with pointed scrolling design interspersed with stylised floral motif worked in chain stitch using silk thread in orange, pink and yellow, cochineal and madder have used as dyes. Narrow border of red and blue braid is attached along the base and outside edges. There are fragments of lining visible on the reverse.

Made: Bukhara, Uzbekistan; 1825 - 1875


Used: Bukhara, Uzbekistan

A9653

1825 - 1875

3400 mm

2330 mm