Unknown Maker, Syrian

Woman's dress (thōb)

Maker

Unknown Maker, Syrian

Culture

Syrian

Title

Woman's dress (thōb)

Year

early 1900s

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

cotton

Geography

Place Made: Syria

Dimensions

Center back length: 137.2 cm (54 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Anne G. Cann

Object Number

1992.058.11

Type

Exhibition History

Sartorial Sanctuary
Clothing and Traditions in the Eastern Islamic World
Dec 19, 2008 – Apr 26, 2009

Label copy

This Bedouin dress with triangular “wing” sleeves dazzles the eye with an overall tie-dyed diamond pattern. Material evidence indicates that artisans practiced tie-dyeing in Syria by the 5th and 6th centuries, inspired by the bandhani (tie-dyed) cotton-trade textiles of India that traversed the well-beaten path to the Middle East. On this festive-occasion dress, the geometric design reflects embellishment on Bedouin jewelry and peasant ceramics, serving as striking decoration as well as an amulet to bestow magical protection on the wearer; the red on black and the yellow spots were understood to ward off the evil eye.

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Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Syrian
Woman's dress (thōb), early 1900s
Cotton; plain weave, tie-dyed
Center back length: 137.2 cm (54 inches)
Gift of Anne G. Cann 1992.058.11

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