Rare garment, ideal for a museum or collector. The backing cotton is fine but strong. In Caroline Stone's book on The Embroideries of North Africa she tells us that the silk thread was locally made and dyed with vegetable colours. The pattern was probaly marked on the cotton with a pencil, although I can see no markings.
dress, with pointed sleeves and A line skirt, the front opening with small embroidered buttons and buttons of crimson and cream twisted silk, a slight pleat to the skirt, the top half densely embroidered in clear strong shades of carmine, magenta, purple, scarlet, olive, turquoise, mid blue, pale grey and blue, all in satin stitch, with diagonal three headed flowers, the sleeves scattered with similar flowers, the deep hem similarly worked, the side splits bound with crimson and cream silks, the background fine cotton woven with a squared design, underarm a denser woven cotton,
The left hand sleeve has mid brown stain 2 x 2.5 cm. I doubt whether this could be removed. There are three small tears to the middle front. These could be conserved. Another stain 2.5 cm long to the middle right hand side above the embroidery and another very small one. A few more small holes or small stains to the front left hand skirt. The skirt centre front has areas of thinning cotton. The back neck has a small hole and one very minor mark lower down. Ask for photos.
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