Black, white, and red – traditional colors for embroidery in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.These ancient embroidery designs symbolize the sun, stars, and moon.For centuries, people believed that celestial bodies in embroidery would protect them from evil spirits.The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and prosperity.The intricate needlework creates dancing lines that enchant the viewer and take you to a different world.Embroidered pieces were part of a bride’s dowry, meant to protect her and her family from evil and illness.Mosaic, Dushanbe, TajikistanMosaic, Almaty, KazakhstanStoves and cauldrons, hoses, and bundled cotton for mattresses. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.Central Asian bread – non or nan – a symbol of the sun! Margilan, UzbekistanFragment of a 19th century wooden door from Khiva. The State Museum of Art, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Chor Minor, built 1807, Bukhara. My favorite building in Uzbekistan.