A pair of Uzbek Lakai cross-stich vanity embroideries. Mid 20th century. Silk cross-stich embroidery on Russian calico fabric. Circa 37 x 22 cm each. These little embroideries were mostly made by a bride as part of a dowry and to show of her skills in needlework and as a decorational piece. Two pretty little pieces from the 1950-60's that still reflect the highly skilled Lakia embroideries from the early 20th century. The superbright aniline colors of the silk threads became fashionable when they got available after the russian revolution and were highly favoured in especially in the Fergana valley in eastern Uzbekistan, with a lot of Kirghiz and Tadzjik influence. The tassles being decorated with hundreds of glass seed beads which were not locally produced but were imported from Czech Bohemia or Venice. The back lining of the square piece in beautifull Russian Post Revolutionary Floral Calico, which is a study by itself. Two beautifull pieces of an almost vanished textile culture.