Thobe
Artist
Artist unrecorded
Dateca. 1870
Place madeNeighboring villages near Ramallah, Historic Palestine, Middle East / West Asia, Asia
MediumIndigo dyed linen, silk embroidery
ClassificationsClothing
Credit LineGift of Florence Dibell Bartlett
Object numberA.1955.86.936
Descriptionlong dark blue (has a heavy denim-like feel/texture and color) dress with bright mostly red and pink embroidery around collar, along each side, and at the bottom on the back. Original accession record data: Bartlett List No. 15. Collector: Grace S. Whiting. Accepted by R.B.I. Locality: Palestine Original Loan No. L52/4/1-31 (23).Old #3375 Thõb (late nineteenth century) This winter dress of indigo blue, handwoven linen is certainly not from Ramallah proper. It belongs to a type worn only in the surrounding villages of Upper Judea, but as far away as Abu Shusha near Ramla in the Coastal Plain. In addition to the usual embroidered sections (qabbeh, sleeves, front and back seams of skirt, and diyāl), there are five vertical bands of embroidery on both side panels. The middle band is composed of symmetrical branches with the feather design on top, alternating with flowers. On each side of it there are two identical bands of flowers with a space between each band. The outside bands, both doubled, are stylized vines with lush clusters of grapes, somewhat different from the classical Ramallah grapevine motif. The diyāl is not composed of the usual palms, but of the moon-with-feathers motif. It is topped by a row of feathers, above which is a row of cypresses, a quite common design. The embroidery throughout is mainly red and magenta silk thread with touches of orange, shades of green, and purple. Length: 140 cm. Width: 77 cm. (Palestinian Dress and Jewelry, Yedida Kalfon Stillman, 1979 ISBN: 0-82630490-7)
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