Published October 5, 2026 | Version v1
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THE EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS AND STRUCTURAL TYPOLOGY OF ORNAMENTAL DECORATIONS IN TRADITIONAL UZBEK COPPERSMITHING

Authors/Creators

  • 1. The Institute of Art studies of The Academy of Sciences of The Republic of Uzbekistan
  • 2. Worldly Knowledge Publishing Centre

Description

This article offers a rigorous art-historical investigation into the evolutionary dynamics, geometric typologies, and structural composition of ornamental decorations within traditional Uzbek copper engraving during the 19th and 20th centuries. Following the historical synthesis of Islamic iconographic principles and preexisting Central Asian visual practices, the study traces how early narrative-figurative depictions underwent a conceptual shift toward highly stylized, abstract configurations. Utilizing the foundational classification methodologies of modern scholarship, the research categorizes these decorations into four dominant typologies: geometric (girih), vegetative-floral (islimi), zoomorphic, and calligraphic-epigraphic systems. Furthermore, it deconstructs six core structural layouts utilized on flat surfaces: gardish, davra, turunj, mehrob, sitora, and ishkalak. The findings demonstrate that traditional Uzbek metal decoration operates on a strict law of bounded spatial borders and modular balance, functioning as an essential indicator of regional identity, socio-economic standing, and cultural continuity.

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References

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