Embroidery from Palestine

This book looks at the intricate patterns and diverse designs of 19th and early 20th century Palestinian village costumes. Palestinian dresses, jackets, head-veils and head-dresses are made from a variety of beautiful fabrics: handwoven cotton or linen, left natural or dyed indigo-blue; and brightly [...]
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This book looks at the intricate patterns and diverse designs of 19th and early 20th century Palestinian village costumes. Palestinian dresses, jackets, head-veils and head-dresses are made from a variety of beautiful fabrics: handwoven cotton or linen, left natural or dyed indigo-blue; and brightly coloured silks, taffetas, velvet and wool. This book examines garments which women prepared for their wedding trousseaus and festive occasions. These unique ceremonial garments are highly decorated with embroidery and patchwork in primary colours, predominately with red. Some are embroidered with geometric patterns in cross-stitch or satin-stitch in lustrous floss silk. Some are couched with intricate, curvilinear patterns in silk and metallic cord. And others are embellished with bold patches of satin and taffeta in abstract shapes. The book will describe and illustrate these diverse decorative techniques and patterns against the backdrop of traditional Palestinian village life and its ceremonies. The examples are drawn from the British Museum's outstanding collection, one of the best in the world, and include some rare and exceptionally beautiful garments.