History of Rishtan

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History of Rishtan

The very name Rishtan, originally Rushidon, according to one version, signifies “red earth”: the city stands upon deposits of unique red clay – the soil is remarkably viscous, and after firing, it becomes exceptionally durable, requiring no additional components – the mixture comprises equal parts clay and water.

The ceramics of Rishtan boast numerous historical milestones – after all, the city itself dates back approximately 2500 years, during which it has endured the rise and fall of all other 70 cities of the Parkan country, including its capital, Ershi, conquered by the Chinese, and the earthquake-ravaged Ahsikent. With such a rich history (detailed extensively on Wikipedia), the city naturally boasts its own artisanal traditions.

Rishtan has faced destruction numerous times – whether by the Mongols in the 13th century (many potters then fled to the similarly devastated but quicker to recover Samarkand), floods, or internal conflicts. In 1704, with the weakening of Bukhara’s power over the Ahsikent Valley, the local nobility installed Ashyl-kul from the Ming tribe as the ruler of Ferghana, against whom his brother, the Rishtanbek Pazil-Atalyk, revolted. Ashylkul led his troops against Rishtan, resulting in the deaths of both stubborn brothers in the war.

However, Ashylkul’s son Shahrukh survived, demonstrating bravery and leadership in the battle, leading the elders to elect him as Khan. In 1709, Shahrukh moved his headquarters to Kokand, and the emergence of the young capital of the Khanate next to ancient Rishtan, thus began a period of abundant orders for embellishing buildings and ornate pottery, marking a turning point in the history of Rishtan ceramics.

Becoming a vassal of Russia, the Kokand Khan Khudoyar began the construction of a luxurious palace, and it was this project that gave rise to the Rishtan school, which had developed over a century and a half in Turkestan. It was the decoration of Khudoyarov’s palace that brought fame to the brothers Abdul Jalol and Abdul Jamil, respectively dubbed Usto-Jamol and Usto-Kuri, becoming a kind of “starting point” for Rishtan potters of all subsequent generations, who had even managed to revive pre-Mongol secrets of faience, which turned out quite well when made from local clay, not at all suitable for faience.

Their pupil, by the time of the palace’s construction, had become a worthy colleague of his teachers – Bald Abdullo (Kali Abdullo), the teacher of the next generation of Fergana potters, and his grandson Ibrahim Kamilov lived in Soviet times, was honored with the USSR State Prize, and in present-day Rishtan, every potter considers him their teacher.

But Rishtan itself appears to be an ordinary Central Asian town at first glance. It lost its city status during the Ming war, under Russia, it was the richest volost village of the Kokand district of the Fergana region, and it regained its city status only in 1977.