Young woman's festival dress

NameEnsemble

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Dateca. 1880

Place madeMiyak, Krushevo, North Macedonia, Balkan Peninsula/Southeast Europe, Europe

MediumCotton, wool, metallic thread, metal, glass beads

Credit LineGift of Bernard W. Ziobro, The Ronald Wixman/Stephen Glaser Collection, Gift of the Macedonian Arts Council

Object numberV.2018.24.1-9

ProvenanceThe Macedonian Arts Council, from 2007-2010, presented as a gift to the Museum of International Folk Art 25 ensembles of multiple pieces. While a small number of the pieces were purchased, the majority of the costumes were donated to the Arts Council by collectors based in the United States and Macedonia

DescriptionAbout 10 north of Demir Hisar is the town of Krushevo; the village of Zheleznik lies between the two towns. As usual with Miyak dress, the dominant embroidery is on the sleeves and chest of the chemise. All the other needlework is couching or chain stitch. If a woman brought the right-side point of the head scarf across her forehead and pinned it in place, she was telling the world that she was engaged. If she brought the front points forward over her shoulder, she signaled that there had been a death in her family. Either side or both sides in front of the shoulder denoted a different degree of familial closeness. Another version of the glaina sokay can be seen in the back view (Young Brides, Old Treasures: Macedonian Embroidered Dress, edited by Bobbie Sumberg, 2011).

Parts of Ensemble: A.2008.7.50V, Buckle with sash: Caprazi with Pojas, 1907
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.142, Scarf: Scarf, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.93, Chemise: Chemise, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.94, Overcoat: Klashenik, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.95, Vest: Elek, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.96, Sash: Prepashka, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.97, Apron: Kivchena Skutina, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.6.99, Head piece: Glaina Sokay, c. 1900
Parts of Ensemble: A.2010.77.12, Waist scarf: Waist scarf, c. 1900