Dedicated to the memory of our mentor Saburdzhana Yusupov, who with his interesting stories and tales taught us to love the motherland, native nature, our favorite city Khiva

Kurinishhona. In the past, the name kurinishhona was used as a salamhana and arzhana (place for greetings, as well as analysis of complaints). In kurinishhona there was much different 2-columned tall and monumental avian(open place for sitting) . In aivan there were held official receptions, public affairs were addressed. Kurinishhona was built in the 1686-1688 years by Arang Khan and destroyed during the devastating invasion of Iranian Nadirshakh. The modern building was erected in the 1804-1806 years by Iltuzar Khan. Construction was led by the vizier Yusuf Khan mihtar. From aivan of kurinishhona there is the entrance to the throne room. Decorations on the walls of the hall, decorated by Bukhara masters, seem simplistic and inconspicuous, they are entirely different from the patterns of Khorezm. The patterns on the walls were newly restored in 1994 by Khiva masters. Khan's throne was in the depths of a long hall in an arched niche (the throne is now kept in the Armory Museum in Moscow). Aivan of kurinishhona is oriented to the north, on top of the single-storey buildings on either side, the small aivans are lined up. This excellent reception of the air flow coming from the north hit a large aivan, then moved in a circle through the small aivans, making spiral movements rose up and went outside the building. Aivan of kurinishhona was rebuilt during the reign of Allakulikhan (1825 - 1842), its walls were decorated with glazed majolica tiles, made by gin master Abdullah. Aivan of kurinishhona was destroyed by civil wars in 1855 and restored in 1864 by Sayyid Mukhammedkhan. During this period, two columns of aivan of arzhana and two marble columns stands were set anew. On the stone base of one of its pillars by master of Islam Khodja were carved poems of Khorezm historian and poet Ogahi.. Below we give the last row of those poems (amateur translation into English):
The variability of the fate of the world, you know,
Not eternal his property and wealth, you know.
Do not be attached to wealth accumulation.
Be always ready to descend to the disadvantaged.
Date Hijra 1274 (1857) year.

In the middle of the yard of kurinishhona there is a brick platform, which is intended for hoisting the tent (chadir) for the admission to the outstanding guests. The patterns on the ceiling of kurinishhona were restored in 1937, a master ornamentalist historian Abdullah Baltaev, symmetrical painted panels, patterned "hashiya" throne, room and shelves, filled according to ancient traditions, are a beautiful picture. Kurinishhona’s dimensions are 27.8 x 26.9 m. The yard is 17.5 x 13.5 m.

Since ancient times Khiva school of ornamental art is well-known among other ornamentation schools of Central Asia. As a result of the creation of a centralized state in Khorezm in the beginning of the XIX century, in the capital of the Khanate of Khiva there were built a variety of administrative and cultural buildings. During this period, such crafts as art of ornamentation (nakkashlik) ganch woodcarving (as part of production of carved wooden columns - urachilik), carved stone decoration (sangtarashlik) have been developed by remarkable craftsmen who raised these crafts to high the level of art. These include: nakkash (ornamentalist) Ruzmet arbab Masharipov, Abdullah Baltaev, master of woodcarving Ata Palvanov, Sapa Bagbekov master of stone finish (sangtarash) Karimbergen Rakhmanov - divanbaba and others. They became the proud of Khiva ornament school, earned an infinite respect and recognition of our people. One of the founders of this school is the People's Artist of Uzbekistan, laureate of the State Prize - Abdullah Baltaev.
Boltaev Abdullah was born in August 1890 in Ichan-Kala, the center of the city of Khiva, in the family dyer. His father was the son of Balta Said Pan Mohammad Murad, born in the village of Parish. Balta, having mastered the craft of the dyer, settled in the city and soon became known as a skilled master of his craft. The family of dyer Balta, as well as other families of artisans, was poor. In the notebook №51 of 88 notebooks, left to his descendants as a heritage, Abdullah Baltaev entitled "Autobiography of Baltaev Abdullah and his family situation," he wrote - "In front of the Juma mosque next to the madrasah of Mamat Pan there was a big house of Badirhanbay. Father, renting one small part of the house, lived there with his family. At that time, father, mother and older brother lived in our family. I was born in this house, which was rented by our family. Dyeing shop and cloth polishing (murachilik) shop were here together. Due to the fact that the owner of the house sold it to Panabayu Mohammed, he drove us away from home. In 1900 the Qiblah (south) from the mosque Hasanmurad kushbegi we bought the hotel jeweler Aziz Zargar for 350 tillas (gold coins). Giving him a small portion of the money, we agreed to pay the remainder of the agreed sum monthly. Due to the fact that the interests for late payment all the time were growing up, we were able to pay the debt only in 1918. The father of ours had three sons, Muhammad Rahim, I (Abdullah) and younger brother Mohammed Karim. I went to the old school under the mosque-kaumi Hasanmurad kushbegi at the age of 10 years. When I finished reading the book "The Sufi Allah Yar", I began to read the book "Navoi", as well as the parents of my friends Abdullah son of haji, son Atajan Rahman, then father gave me to the newly opened Jadid school. At this time, each of the khan's officials Islam Khodja and Mamat mahram opened new-method schools (before we knew that in Khiva was only one new-methodical school opened by Islam Khodja, which was housed in a two-story building. In his autobiography Abdullah Baltaeva learned that in Khiva there were two new-methodical schools). I, Matnazar Abdullayev, Atajan Rakhmanov studied in new-methodical school, at the school I learned to read and write, my spelling has been improved, because of my great interest in learning, I was ahead of my fellows in reading and writing. "
Feeling a sharp mind and the ability of the young Abdullah, the father set out to teach him many crafts and sciences. After 4 years he studied in the old school, 4 years in new-methodical school, his father gave his son as an apprentice to a remarkable calligrapher, ornamentalist, known poet Faqiri Abdurazzak Kari Abdujabbarov’s son. - "For 4 years", - said Abdullah Baltaev - "Faqiri taught me reading the Quran, calligraphy, sketching designs."
In 1910-1912, in Khiva post office, telegraph, hospitals were built. The design of these buildings were made by Khanka master Bolta Vaisov and Madrahim Madaminov. Ornament was engaged by artist Abdullah Boltayev. Khanka masters taught him the art of mosaic. In 1912, mentor Eshmuhammadom Hudayberdi and he worked together on the design and mosaic of tiles of Islam Khodja madrasah. In the years 1910-1912, Abdullah Boltayev worked in hall decorated mosaic palace Nurullabaya. In the 20 years Abdullah Boltaev became famous as a master of ganch and designer of ornaments. February 2, 1920 Khan was overthrown by government.

The country began feuding, times changed, and the masters had to do other things temporarily. In particular, From 1920 to 1924 he worked at the Inspectorate of Education as treasurer, secretary and economic workers. From 1924 until his death Abdullah Boltaev worked in the museum of Khiva, as a head, the assistant manager, the researcher.

In the mid-30s the group of government employees who under the guidance Faizullakh Khodjaev, established branch of the Committee for the Protection of Monuments of History and Art in order to restore the ruined city in Khiva. The Committee taked control of all the historical buildings, to rebuild destroyed and damaged monuments. Chairman of Khiva department was Djumaniyoz Babaniyoz ugli. Under his leadership, Kunya Arch began restoration work with the Khan's Palace in this charity really and Abdullah Boltaev participated as an artist on the ornament, master draftsman. He also worked as a chief master in the decoration of the hall for an audience, updating the portal and ceiling quince. Prior to 1934 there was a great gratitude to the work of masters under the guidance of Abdullah Boltaev (Atadjan master Vais master of Gandimiyona, painter Babadjan sandikchi, master Ruzmat Sharif ugli, Usta Muhammad Rahim Babadjan ugli, master ugli Rahimbergan Nurullah).

In 1935, when the farm "Umid" opened in Khiva, it was set up shop on the art of ornamentation and carved columns. Abdullah was a head of the shop and master of carved columns Ota Palvanov. At the same time in Tashkent it was received a proposal on the establishment of a unique column. Making drawings of ornament for columns were engaged by Abdullah Boltayev and rest of the work performed Ota Palvanov. In 1937 this column was sent to the international exhibition in Paris, where he was appreciated (Wizard learned about it only in 1948). However, since 1935, when the persecution began, many restoration worked in the city to a halt. By the end of the 30s, many buildings in the city of Khiva were destroyed. Two entering of Ichan Kala Kunya Ark and Tashhauli, a result of predatory action came in a dilapidated state.

Activities were planted in a short time and they became prominent. The wizard state orders. In 1943 he arrived in Tashkent engineer S.N.Polupanov and signed a contract with team of "Umid". He ordered carved stairs, doors and other design works for the theater of Alisher Navoi. This order was executed to master Abdullah cBoltayev. When products were ready, Abdullah Boltaev sent Pavlanov Ota and his disciples Dadadjonom Abdullayev Sapo Bagbekov Khodja Ahmad Ollayev, to Tashkent. After some time, we began work at the Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alisher Navoi theater, musical drama Mukimi. Khorezm masters Abdullah Boltayev and Ruzmat Arbob Masharipov reached to demonstrate the art of Khiva school of masters ganch, ornament.

The building of the Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alisher Navoi is a shining example, it is a unique monument of Uzbek national art, culture and architecture. The building was designed by Academician Shchusev, construction was completed in 1947. Architects and builders have used the rich experience of national architecture and modern methods. On the paper were involved masters from various regions of Uzbekistan, each of which was able to express your style.

Each of the three floors there are halls, which were reflected in the design of the samples and patterns of architecture styles of each of the areas. At the initiative of Academician Shchusev and civil engineer S.N.Polupanova were invited to the leading masters of the areas to supervise work on the design of rooms The head of Khiva hall Abdullah Boltayev, Bukhara - master Shirin Muradov, Tashkent - Tashpulat Arslankulov, Samarkand - master Kuli Jalilov, Fergana - Said Mahmud Norkuziev, Termiz - master Shirin Muradov and architect A.Zaynuddinov. The theatre building - a whole work of art, it is unique in its kind. The general management of work on the design of the theatre hall itself provided Shchusev. It provides full creative freedom masters, which gave them the opportunity to express more fully their capabilities and skills. For example, Boltaev Abdullah got his aim by desingning Khiva hall: to concentrate unique, original art ornamentation of Khorezm, a special place in the art averted and Khiva Kunya Urgench.

Job masters appreciated, they were all conditions. In 1948, when the theater opened, a group of artists was awarded the State Prize. Among them Boltaev Abdullah, who was not only awarded but admitted to the State Society of Architects. As a result of government assistance, particularly Usman Yusupov national art of Khorezm, namely revived folk art ornament. Upon completion of work in Tashkent Abdullah Boltaev back to Khiva and continued its activities in the museum on a researcher, head of the fund. Works in the museum, he devoted 40 years of his life. In order to preserve information about the cultural heritage of the edge of AbdullahBoltayev on the advice of a friend, the historian Yahyo Gulamov left 88 notebooks containing information about the history of Khorezm. Hitherto we studied only three of them. In his works Boltaev Abdullah described the event was witnessed by himself, interviews conducted with historical figures, and also the appropriate conclusions from them read old books.

He collected information can be divided into three parts:

- Description of the events, which had witnessed himself;

- Documents, culled from archival materials;

- Copies of documents that he collected since 1920, since the beginning of the work in the historical museum of Khiva.

Abdullah Boltaev had beautiful handwriting, sought to learn the secrets of the Uzbek language, language skills considered a sign of high culture. His writing notes in a notebook he wrote a pen stylus, made of reeds. He learned calligraphy from Ayudurazzaka measles Fakir and in his works, memoirs, he paid special attention to the art of calligraphy.

It is noteworthy that Abdullah memoirs Boltaeva historian Yahyo Gulomov used to create his book "History of Khorezm irrigation" and M.Yuldashev - "The political system and the feudal land tenure in the Khiva Khanate."