Visitor Information
- Address: 55 Kimsan Street, Gijduvan City, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan
- Phone: +998 90 718 30 60, +998 90 612 30 60
- Working hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Website: www.folkceramic.uz
In Gijduvan, just an hour’s drive from Bukhara (45 km), the city’s main attraction is a ceramics museum dedicated to the renowned 20th-century master Ibodulla Nazrullaev (1927–1987). This House Museum of Folk Pottery, opened in 2000, is located in the family home of the Nazrullaev dynasty and forms part of the Gijduvan Craft Center. In addition to showcasing ceramics, the center preserves and promotes the traditional crafts of carpet weaving and embroidery in Uzbekistan. It remains a family-run enterprise led by People's Artist of Uzbekistan Abdullo Nazrullaev, together with his children Akmal and Dilnoza, and his brother Alisher Nazrullaev.
Exhibition
The museum's exhibition features both contemporary and historical ceramic works by the Nazrullaev dynasty, alongside pieces created by other masters and schools of Central Asia. Most of the items reflect the Gijduvan style, allowing visitors to trace the distinctive features of local ceramics and follow the evolution of this regional tradition.
The display includes numerous trays, teapots, saucers, and other types of tableware. A large part of the collection also consists of decorative items, such as unique whistling toys shaped like small mythical creatures, known as khushtak.
Gijduvan ceramics are considered the most central, most renowned, and among the oldest in the Bukhara region. According to the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU), the earliest known examples of Gijduvan ceramics date back around 1,500 years.
This tradition is known for its vivid colors and diverse ornamentation. The designs typically feature geometric, floral, and animal motifs with softly blurred outlines. The color palette centers on yellow-brown and green hues, complemented by touches of blue.
Gijduvan ceramics have been showcased by master artisans at numerous competitions, festivals, and craft fairs both in Uzbekistan and abroad, earning widespread recognition and acclaim.
Visiting the Museum
According to official data, the Gijduvan Crafts Center receives between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors annually. Over the years, it has welcomed notable guests including King Charles III of Great Britain (then Prince Charles), Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and others.
During their visit, guests can explore the museum’s collection and purchase select items as souvenirs. They may also visit the family workshop or take part in pottery master classes led by brothers Abdullo and Alisher Nazrullaev.
After touring the museum, visitors can enjoy traditional Uzbek cuisine at the on-site kitchen. The menu features the renowned Gijduvan-style shashlik kebabs alongside other local dishes such as manti, samsa, and lagman.
For those who wish to extend their stay to delve deeper into Uzbek ceramics – or even apprentice with one of the masters – the museum offers a small guesthouse with three spacious rooms, each decorated in traditional style.