After reports about a throne displayed at the Khudoyorkhon complex in Kokand went viral on social media, the Cultural Heritage Agency issued a statement addressing the controversy.
According to the agency, the throne that sparked public debate is not, in fact, a museum artifact. It was built as a prop in 2018 for the historical film "Kokand Wind." Once filming wrapped, the piece was left in place temporarily to fill an empty space in the palace's Grand Reception Hall.
Work is now underway to create a replica of the throne that accurately reflects the historical appearance of Khudoyorkhon's palace. In May 2024, museum officials traveled to the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and confirmed that the original throne is not held there.
Historical sources and existing documentation are being studied to guide the throne's reconstruction. Materials have already been procured from a special variety of black walnut that grows in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
Craftsmen from the Iranian city of Malayer have been brought in to consult on the throne's decoration and finishing, while Uzbek master woodcarver Mirzo Yunus Umarov is expected to handle the woodcarving work.
The agency stressed that producing an accurate replica grounded in historical sources and scholarly research is a complex, multi-stage undertaking. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Stay up to date with all the latest news:
