The modern collection of the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan named after Igor Savitsky contains more than 100 thousand works of art. This is a treasure trove that gives an idea of the cultural period starting from the 3rd century BC. Chronologically, the collection covers more than four millennia!
The initial core of the collection of the Nukus Museum was formed by ancient and folk decorative arts from the region of the Aral Sea, where the Republic of Karakalpakstan is located today. The formation of the collection began under the guidance of Igor Vitalievich Savitsky in the late 1950s and early 1960s, prior to the official establishment of the museum. A significant portion of the decorative and applied arts items from Karakalpakstan dates back to the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Among them, one can find items made of wood and leather that were used by nomadic peoples during their travels—saddles adorned with silver, containers for utensils, and intricately carved doors for yurts.
Of particular interest are the carpet products used to decorate Karakalpak yurts, with patterned strips created using a unique technique of relief pile weaving. The collection also includes exquisite examples of ancient Karakalpak silver jewelry with carnelian and turquoise inlays, as well as traditional headwear for Karakalpak women, such as the tobelik and saukele.
The national costumes, embroidered with silk, were crafted by unnamed local artisans, which adds special value to these items and reflects a high level of artistic skill.
The extensive collection of archaeological finds from ancient and medieval sites vividly reflects the key stages of the cultural history of Karakalpakstan, beginning with the Bronze Age and culminating in the emergence of some of the earliest states, including Ancient Khorezm.
The collection spans up to the early medieval period and the end of the 14th century, when Khorezm became part of the Timurid Empire.
Artifacts, including ancient sculptures, ceramic products, jewelry, manuscripts, and unique frescoes, as well as Zoroastrian terracotta figurines of Anahita—the goddess of fertility—and ossuaries (vessels for the burial of the remains of fire-worshippers' ancestors) provide deeper insights into the history and rich cultural heritage of the region.
Objects of material and artistic culture from ancient and medieval Khorezm, such as archaeological finds from Toprak-kala, Tok-kala, Mizdahkan, and other sites, serve as important testimonies to the past, providing insights into the life and traditions of the people who inhabited this unique corner of the world. The oldest exhibit is a fragment of petroglyphs depicting a Bactrian camel on a piece of rock from the Bukantau mountain range, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. From late antiquity (1st to 4th centuries), the collection includes a bronze pin shaped like a hand holding an apple, bronze lamps, and a collection of ceramics, including storage hums for grains, pitchers, and other objects dated to the 12th-13th centuries.
The Nukus Museum gained worldwide fame for its collection of Russian avant-garde paintings from the 1920s to the 1940s. Many of the artists whose works are displayed in the museum, such as R.Falk, K.Redko, L.Popova, and sculptor V.Mukhina, were well known in Europe.
The museum's exhibition features authentic masterpieces by artist A. Volkov and exquisite works by the refined stylist Usto Mumin (A. Nikolaev), as well as early works by renowned Impressionist artists who lived in Uzbekistan, such as U. Tansykaev and N. Karakhan.
Close in spirit and style to the avant-garde, the magnificent canvases of V.Rozhdestvensky, E.Korovay, M.Kurzin, and A.Shevchenko also hold a significant place in the collection.
The museum not only preserves masterpieces by famous artists who shaped the main artistic movements in Central Asia in the first half of the 20th century but also introduces audiences to the outstanding works of talented contemporary artists from Karakalpakstan, including Zh. Izentaev, B. Serikeev, R. Matevosyan, Zh. Kuttymurатов, and others.
The updated exhibition of the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan named after I.V. Savitsky, "The World of Igor Savitsky," marks an important milestone in the reevaluation of the museum's display. The redesigned space brings together painting, archaeology, and decorative applied arts, highlighting Savitsky's unprecedented contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Aral Sea region.