Garment, c. 1890s. Africa, North Africa, Egypt, Aswan, unidentified makers. Silk and mirrored glass; overall: x x cm (52 x 25 x 12 in.). Covered with symbolic decorations, this multitone silk garment beautified and protected its wearer. The khamsah (????)—an open five-fingered hand—figures prominently as a cream-colored appliqué. The khamsah deflected or absorbed al-'ayn (?????)—the evil eye—as did the appliquéd mirrors, shielding the wearer from many varieties of harm. New research connects this garment to an entry in museum founder J. H. Wade’s 1881–1900 travel purchase note
Garment, c. 1890s. Africa, North Africa, Egypt, Aswan, unidentified makers. Silk and mirrored glass; overall: x x cm (52 x 25 x 12 in.). Covered with symbolic decorations, this multitone silk garment beautified and protected its wearer. The khamsah (????)—an open five-fingered hand—figures prominently as a cream-colored appliqué. The khamsah deflected or absorbed al-'ayn (?????)—the evil eye—as did the appliquéd mirrors, shielding the wearer from many varieties of harm. New research connects this garment to an entry in museum founder J. H. Wade’s 1881–1900 travel purchase notebook: “Kalifa’s gown emb[roidered] on purple silk.” A caliph (or khalifah) is a leader of a Caliphate (Islamic state) or an Islamic religious group. Whether this was indeed a caliph’s gown is a point of future research.
Size: 2265px × 3400px
Photo credit: © CMA/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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