Woman's tunic

NameTunic, shirt

CultureKohistanl

Date20th century

Place madeNuristan, Afghanistan, South Asia, Asia

MediumCotton, silk, glass beads, plastic buttons, metal zipper

Dimensions30 1/2 × 55 7/8 × 5 1/8 in. (77.5 × 142 × 13 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Anne Marie Weiss-Armush, A.2018.5.11

Object numberA.2018.5.11

ProvenanceThe donor married a Syrian man and moved to Saudi Arabia in 1976, where she lived for 11 years. During her stay she amassed a large collection of Middle Eastern garments.

DescriptionThis black cotton woman's tunic has a very wide gored skirt with blue interior hem binding. At the waist is a beaded medallion centering a white six pointed star. The bodice with zippered opening is covered with pearlescent buttons in different sizes and shapes. Around the zipper is an intricate geometric embroidered pattern using petit-point and satin stitch, in dark red, green, gold (ochre) and purple. This is edged in white beads. At the waist sides are cowrie shells and clustered beads. The long sleeves are heavily embroidered in satin stitch, again in geometric patterns and rondels. An open zipper completes the heavily embroidered cuff edge. The back is plain. The rounded neck has silk binding in back and whipped stitched front. The bodice is lined.