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Materials: Indigo dyed hand loomed cotton; embroidery floss
in cream, reds, purples, pinks, and oranges; orange cording; red velvet
neckband; black and cream checked hem binding with enclosed cord.
Condition: Excellent, near perfect.
Button at neck missing; red velvet of the neckband is worn. No stains or
mends.
Measurements: Sh-Sh, 16.5"; B,
34"; H, 39"; Dress L, 49.5"; Slv L, 18.5; Slv Wd,
23"; Hem C, 74".
Comments: The Bedouin women of the
Sinai desert made their dresses to closely resemble the style of
Palestinian village dress, with two major differences. The Bedouin dress
was made with deep winged sleeves, unlike the Palestinian's straight
sleeve. Palestinians embroidered designs that were purely
geometric; Bedouins embroidered designs that incorporated natural shapes
- flowers and small animals. The blocks of embroidery on the sleeves of
this Bedouin dress are nearly identical, with one small significant
difference. At the top of the right sleeve's embroidered design are two
four footed mammals (goats or deer?), one pink, one orange. When red is
the predominant color in Bedouin embroidery, as in this dress, it
signifies a married woman's dress. Blue is reserved for unmarried girls
and widows. The square block of dense embroidery on the bodice has
outstanding workmanship and color, including raised floral V-shaped
designs worked in couched orange cord.
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