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2018.37.21

Cotton dress. Indigo dyed with pink ikat sections on the arms and embroidered decoration in shades of pink and purple. Pullover style with a V-neck.

2018.37.21

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Cotton dress. Indigo dyed with pink ikat sections on the arms and embroidered decoration in shades of pink and purple. Pullover style with a V-neck.
Geographical reference
Palestine
Asia > Western Asia > Palestine
Person
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Jenny Balfour-Paul
PRM source Jenny Balfour-Paul
Date
Acquisition information
Donated: 03/03/2016
Materials and processes
Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Material Pigment, Process Woven, Process Stitched, Process Embroidered, Process Dyed
Dimensions
Height x Width 1260 x 1295 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 2018.37.21 Other numbers: P7
Research and responses

Palestinian embroidery and dress is discussed in detail in Chapters 32 and 33 of 'Encyclopaedia of the Arab World', edited by Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, published by Bloomsbury Academic in 2016. [AF [EFCF project] 21/5/2018]

[Multaka-Oxford Project notes] - During a visit from a group of Palestinian Dabke dancers organised by the Oxford Ramallah Frienship Association (ORFA). The group discussed how the layout, colours and motifs featured in Palestinian embroidery can tell you lots about the identity of the wearer: "You see the dress, you see the stories". Refe commented: Much embroidery in the old days would be done near water to make use of the reflected light.

The group also sang a traditional song that would be performed during weddings. Aya: "Song and embroidery are our culture..." A video is shown on the project Tumblr blog: https://multaka-oxford.tumblr.com/post/178174546434/over-the-summer-the-pitt-rivers-was-lucky-to-host [AF [EFCF project] 11/1/2019]

Associated publications
Balfour-Paul, Jenny, Indigo in the Arab World, Routledge, 1997 [AF [EFCF project] 23/8/2019] Balfour-Paul, Jenny, Indigo: Egyptian Mummies to Blue Jeans by , British Museum Press, 1998 [AF [EFCF project] 23/8/2019]

Search terms: Textile, Clothing, Clothing Textile, Dress, Embroidery, Dye

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