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Burqa
Bedouin, Saudi Arabian
Object Place: Saudi Arabia
Medium/Technique
Cotton
Dimensions
Center back: 168.9 cm (66 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dawn Nordblom in memory of Rodger P. Nordblom
Accession Number2014.446
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionBlack cotton burqa with gold embroidery on cap and face piece. Seven narrow horizontal pleats approximately 8in. from the bottom edge of the burqa. The gold embroidery on the cap appears to be machine stitched (the tension of the threads is off). The embroidery is a floral design with a four-leaf clover type image at the center encircled with foliage. The cap was embroidered flat and then sewn (where the two sides of the pattern piece meet, at the seam, the embroidery does not match up). At the face area of the garment, where the eyes should be, there is a rectangular shape with two triangular ends embroidered in gold. Within the gold embroidered shape is a gold embroidered criss-cross pattern with holes (allowing for the wearer to see out, but preventing the outside from seeing the wearer). A gold floral-like design acts as a border around the rectangular shape for the eyes. Around this area of embroidery, there are loose threads, and what appear to be glue marks. Below the face area is more floral-like gold embroidery, contained within a large triangle shape. Beneath this large triangle shape is a trim of vertical pleats.
ProvenanceBetween 1980 and 1985, acquired by Dawn Nordblom, Palm Beach, CA from Bedouin people in Saudi Arabia; 2014, gift of Nordblom to the MFA. (Accession date: February 26, 2014)