HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, ARTISTIC CHARACTERISTICS, AND SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF SHAHRISABZ EMBROIDERY MOTIFS: A HISTORICAL SOURCE-BASED AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article examines the historical development, regional characteristics, artistic composition, and symbolic meanings of Shahrisabz embroidery on the basis of scholarly sources. It reviews academic literature, dissertations, and contemporary studies devoted to Uzbek folk decorative arts, Central Asian suzanis, and embroidery traditions of southern Uzbekistan. Drawing particularly on the works of O. A. Sukhareva, Z. Kh. Nasirova, Y. Mamadiyorova, E. Gül, and other scholars, the study identifies distinctive features of the Shahrisabz embroidery tradition. Historical-comparative, source-critical, visual, and compositional methods are employed. The analysis leads to recommendations for scholarly documentation of Shahrisabz embroidery heritage, classification of local motifs, and preservation of these traditions under contemporary conditions.