Uzbekistan: Masterpieces of the Silk Road displays the ultimate collection of archaeological finds from across Uzbekistan, whose location along the Great Silk Road brought together Mediterranean, Chinese, Persian, and Indian cultures, as well Buddhist, Islamic, and pagan influences. The rich diversity of objects included in this book—from a serpent sculpture dating to the third millennium BCE to an eighth-century ivory chess set, considered to be one of the oldest ever found—offer a tantalizing look into the glory of a civilization’s past.

Created by Yaffa Assouline, Uzbekistan: Masterpieces of the Silk Road is an intimate invitation of discovery. “Preparing for this book has been a source of extraordinary satisfaction for me,” says Yaffa Assouline. “With an endless curiosity, I immersed myself in the fascinating history of these ancient Central Asian populations and their nomadic cultures. I marveled at each artifact, with its beauty and refinement. During the photo shoots with photographer Laziz Hamani, my accomplice, I was able to hold these objects, triggering my emotions and stimulating my imagination about the stories they could tell.”