Valuable Gifts from the Emir of Bukhara Preserved at the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan
At the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, jewelry and precious items gifted by the Emir of Bukhara to one of the most respected and renowned oil magnates of his time, Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, are preserved. These rare gifts, crafted by Bukhara jewelers, are planned to be replicated and displayed at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.
For the engagement ceremony of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev’s daughter, Leyla Khanum, Emir Alim Khan presented ten luxurious household items as gifts. In return, Taghiyev also gave valuable gifts to the Emir. According to sources, during a stroll through Baku, Emir Alim Khan was impressed by the silent carriages he saw. In response, Taghiyev gifted him a pacer horse, a carriage, horses, and even a coachman. As a token of friendship, the Emir awarded him the “Dear Star of Bukhara” order. This order is also preserved in the museum, along with a photograph of the two friends taken in Baku in 1896.
Emir Alim Khan also established strong international cooperation with Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. In 1908, a project to construct a mosque for Muslims in Saint Petersburg, then part of the Russian Empire, was developed. The project was supported by Emir Sayyid Abdulahad Khan of Bukhara, as there was a large Muslim population in the city, mostly involved in trade and residing there either temporarily or permanently. After Abdulahad Khan’s death, the responsibility for the mosque’s construction passed to his son, Emir Alim Khan, and his friend Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. Thanks to their joint efforts, the mosque was completed and continues to serve Muslims, adding beauty to the cityscape of Saint Petersburg.
The National Museum of Azerbaijan houses nearly 300 exhibits related to the culture and history of Uzbekistan. The gifts presented by the Emir, as mentioned above, are considered among the most valuable and unique items in the museum’s collection.