Robe
BackDescription:
Man's dark blue silk robe ('aba'), sleeveless, with front opening. Richly decorated with tapestry-woven silver-wrapped yellow silk thread designs. Front opening, arm holes and shoulders edged in gold-dipped silver thread. Tunic formed in two pieces and joined horizontally at midway. Back of tunic bears inscription: ma sha allah (what God wills).
Object type: | robe |
Museum number: | Af1994,03.1 |
Date: | 19thC(late) (?) |
Findspot: | Found/Acquired: Naqada (?) |
Materials: | silk, silver, gold |
Technique: | tapestry |
Dimensions: | Length: 135.00 cm Width: 130.00 cm |
Inscriptions: | Inscription details: inscription in Arabic script Inscription quoted: ma sha allah Inscription transliteration: (what God wills) |
Location: | 51 |
Acquisition names: | Purchased through: Phillips |
Acquisition date: | 1994 |
Curator's comments:
Robes such as this indigo-dyed silk ‘aba, woven with silver and gold thread, were worn for special events, including weddings, or given as khil’a (ceremonial robes of honour) to favoured guests. The back of this robe is inscribed with ma sha’ allah (‘what God wills’), an expression used to convey admiration while at the same time safeguarding against the ‘evil eye’.; Robes such as this were produced in several parts of the Arab world, notably in the town of Damascus in Syria. This example was woven in Egypt, quite possibly in the old silk weaving town of Naqada, where today shawls bearing similar designs are produced for women.
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