The applied arts of Uzbekistan is a real cultural and historical phenonmenon. It is well known because of the Uzbek traditions. The beautiful architectural ensembles of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Tashkent and Ferghana are famous for their pieces of applied arts. Beautiful pieces are created by masters in wood-carving, chasing, lacquered miniatures, embroidery and jewellery plus all the art of the Uzbekistan. Now the applied arts is not only the ancient art introduced by the Museums. The local population admired the beautiful production and in the 20th century, many walls of houses were decorated with embroideries, carpets, ceramics and chasing. Traditionally, the embroidered carpets were of dark shade of colour.

  However, the Uzbek countryside, instead of using the modern style, they use articles of the old applied arts and try to retain the old traditions. Plants and geometrical ornaments were traditionally created in applied arts. Uzbek ceramics was made famous during the 7th century. The Uzbekistan ceramics is divided into types, namely the white-blue ceramics of the Ferghana Valley and Khorezm and the brown-yellow ceramics of Samarkand and Bukhara. It was found that the Ferghana ceramics were nicer, more beautiful and delicate. The Khoresm ceramics were differed by its strict and eometrical ornamentation. The skill of chasing is the best left to the Bukhara's masters because of their unbeatable skills.

For wood-carving, the craftmen from Tashkent and Ferghana Valley are popular for their production of small tables, chairs, boxes, doors, and different souvenirs. Therefore, when in Uzbekistan, you'll have a lot of choices not only to buy your souvenirs and gifts but also to savour the wonderment of culture and heritage of the Uzbek people

The origins of Uzbek folk art are hidden in the depths of centuries of history. Numerous archeological diggings in rural areas have revealed new aspects of this ancient land and its culture. Uzbek applied art has a wealth of variety when it comes to style, materials and ornamentation. Ceramic, silk and cotton weaving, stone and wood carving, metal engraving, leather stamping, calligraphy and miniature painting are some genres passed down from ancient times. In the past, each region has its own cultural and ethic traditions, these unique features were established by local quilds who strengthened these characteristics through their art. It was possible to recognise where someone came from by his tyubeteyka (embroidered skullcap), the colour and style of his chapan (gown). The embroidery in the house identified the housewife's or her mother's birthplace. The development of folk art and craft in Uzbekistan is very important. To encourage and support artists, the Hunardman Union of Folk Craftsmen was established. An Assiciation of Folk Craftsmen called Usto will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year and the scientific industrial center, Musavvir recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Ceramics

Ceramics of Uzbekistan is very diverse in its colour and design. It is also regional in terms of shape, design and colour. The most well known centres for ceramics are Risbtan and Gurumsay situated in the Ferhana Valley and Khorezm. They are famous for their glazed white and blue ceramics. The regions producing multicoloured ceramics are Gidjduvan, Shakhrisabz, Tashkent and Samarkand. Gidjduvan is the area that has always been bighly regarded by experts for its exceptional ceramic art especially because of its rich colours: golden yellow, dark brown and green tones. Bowls, piolas (national cups) and dishes are painted inside and outside. Painted ceramic toys (bushtack) are produced in a little village called Uba, 40 km outside Bukhara. During the second half of the 20th century, miniature plastic toys made by Samarkand craftsmen became very popular. These pices were not only amusing as toys, they also depicted scenes filled with people's characteristics, humour and nanve little stories. Another kind of Uzbek craft typical for Samarkand is the art of making crockery, smoking pipes (chilim) and snuffboxes (noskadu) from little gourds

Uzbek craftsmen of today still practice ancient jewelry making techniques for cutting gemstones, grain filigree, granular work, engraving, embossing, chasing and enameling. Modern jewelers not only keep traditions, they also take into account fashion demands and styles.

Since ancient times, the largest cities in Uzbekistan - Bukhara, Tashkent, Samarkand and Khiva, have been the centres for copper engraving based on traditional methods. Each region has specific shapes and designs. The most popular items are jugs, teapots and trays, and not too long ago, washstands, bandbasins, buckets for keeping produce and large bowls. Copper embossed items were highly appreciated in the past and today they are very popular too. The water vessel (kumgan) motif often appears in patterns on ceramic jugs and embroidered cloths. This is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Tashkent and Bukhara are the two most popular areas that practice this craft

One of the most popular trends of applied arts in Uzbekistan is embroidery . The several areas in Uzbekistan famous for their embroidery are Nuratin, Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, Surhandarya, Tashkent, Djizzak and Ferghana. Each school is distiguished by it's unique features such as ornamentation, composition, colour range and stitching. The traditional art of embroidery is still alive among the people of Uzbekistan. In Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Tashkent embroidered cloths are mass produced in factories. Gold embroidery is the finest kind of embroidery. This craft has always and still is practised in Bukhara. One of the most ancient craft in Uzbekistan is weaving. Its richest historical traditions have remained with us to today. Cotton fabrics and silks were in demand everywhere throughout Central Asia. Uzbekistan's famous centres for cloth manufacturing are Samarkand, Bukhara, Kokand, Margilan and Namangan. Towns in the Ferghana Valley still operate as silk production centres. Secret for making these priceless cloth were known in these parts long before the Great Silk Route was established. The art of weaving still exist in the Ferghana Valley and, without a doubt, handcrafted cloth is still preferred to factory woven fabric. In addition to the silk factory in Margilan, there is also a new enterprise Edgorlic which has been established to revive the ancient methods of weaving varnished silk and semi-silk. The art of cloth printing almost disappeared completly. It was very popular in Samarkand and Bukhara in the past. Today it is actively developing in the town of Margilan.