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Visit to the Suzani Collection of Jay Schippers

Jay Schippers

Saturday, March 15, 2025

2:00 to 5:00 pm - Brooklyn Heights

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Members Only – Please renew your membership before RSVP or become a member

Our visit will begin with a presentation of approximately 50 suzani photographs displayed on a large TV screen, accompanied by a discussion on the distinct design variations found in suzanis from different regions—West, North and East.

Next, there will be a 15-minute talk on the various sources of information available on the art of suzanis.

Finally, guests will take a guided walk through the house to view 20 suzanis on display, with Jay highlighting their unique characteristics and historical significance.

Jay Schippers grew up in rural Vermont, where quilting remained a moderately active tradition. His appreciation for textiles deepened in 1973 during a voyage home from France. On the ship, he met Vladimir Haustov, the partner of Gail Martin, who was returning from a buying trip in Uzbekistan with a collection of suzanis to sell at their newly opened Artweave Textile Gallery on Madison Avenue. Jay was immediately drawn to the beauty of suzanis but didn’t purchase any until years later.

In the late 1970s, he began collecting textiles, starting with a few American quilts. His passion expanded when he connected with two young rug dealers from Istanbul, hosting “rug parties” for them and acquiring numerous kilims. By the 1980s, he had turned his attention to suzanis, beginning what would become a lifelong fascination.

In 2010, Schippers founded the Virtual Suzani Museum and Research Center, dedicated to documenting the history of this intricate textile art form. The center has conducted extensive global research, assembling a comprehensive bibliography of books and manuscripts. It has also translated four previously unpublished Russian publications from the 1940s, originally held in Russian museums. Additionally, the Research Center has carried out structural analyses on approximately 100 suzanis to explore regional and historical variations in their craftsmanship.

https://suzanimuseum.com