Presentation of the gift. Photo: Center for Islamic Civilization press service
The Cambridge Center for Persian Studies has donated a 200-year-old Khotan carpet, woven in Eastern Turkestan, to the museum of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, the Center’s press service reported.
Previously held in the collection of the Center for Islamic Studies in the UK, the carpet was formally presented to the Tashkent museum during the international expert forum “Heritage of the Great Past — Foundation of an Enlightened Future.”
The artifact was acquired by the British museum in February 2025 through one of the world’s oldest auction houses, Champions. The carpet features the “Vogel” motif — a stylized floral vase, interpreted as a symbol of spring and renewal; the surrounding flowers symbolize femininity, elegance, and fertility.
According to Firuze Melville, head of the Cambridge Center for Persian Studies, Khotan carpets, woven for centuries in Eastern Turkestan, are prized for their craftsmanship and rich symbolism, reflecting a blend of Bactrian, Iranian, Chinese, and Indian traditions.
The forum “Heritage of the Great Past — Foundation of an Enlightened Future” was held at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, bringing together more than 200 scholars and experts from over 20 countries. Experts included representatives of national and international organizations such as TURKSOY, ISESCO, IRCICA, and Al-Furqan.
The Center for Islamic Civilization, located next to the Hazrati Imam complex in Tashkent, was built in the style of medieval monuments with four portals 34 meters high and a central dome rising 65 meters. The complex houses a Quran hall, a 460-seat conference hall, and a museum with exhibitions covering the history of Uzbekistan from pre-Islamic times to the present. The Center is designed as a platform for studying the heritage of the past in cooperation with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and educational institutions worldwide.
