My next story about the attractions of hospitable Tashkent will be dedicated to the history of the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan. The exhibition is interesting not only for its vibrant collection but also because it is housed in an unusual house that was once owned by the Russian diplomat A. A. Polovtsov.
How to Get There
The museum is located at 15 Rakatboshi Street. You can walk here from the "Kosmonavtlar" metro station, and it will take about ten minutes. The museum is not far from major thoroughfares and other landmarks in the city, so to avoid getting lost, it's easiest to plan your route to it using online maps.
In November 2023, the cost of visiting the exhibition was 25,000 Uzbek soums.
A Bit of History
Alexander Alexandrovich Polovtsov arrived in Tashkent in 1896. His duties as an official included studying the demographic processes of the region.
To accommodate the Russian diplomat in Tashkent, an existing house was purchased, and it underwent reconstruction. Interiors, created using national motifs, were designed by renowned masters of that time. The complex included utility buildings, a garden, and stable facilities. In literature, Polovtsov's former residence is often referred to as a palace.
Some interiors of this remarkable building have survived to this day. I was particularly amazed by the central hall of the main building with columns and a fountain. There used to be a pool with goldfish in the same place.
Polovtsov lived here for only four years. Later, the building passed to his descendants and was eventually sold to a new owner. In the early Soviet era, it housed a shelter, a technical school, and an embroidery workshop.
Since 1938, the halls of the complex have hosted a permanent exhibition of applied arts of Uzbekistan. It was founded in the late 1920s. The collection continues to expand: if in the 1980s there were 4,000 exhibits here, their number has almost doubled by now.
The halls of the Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan are divided by themes: there are rooms with examples of ceramics, embroidery, utensils, wooden products, furniture, and musical instruments.
The museum can be considered an ideal place for those who want to learn about the history of the country's way of life. If you are more interested in strolling through artistic exhibitions, I can offer you my virtual tour of the halls of the Fine Arts Gallery of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
Have a nice trip!
