belt
- Museum number
- Af1998,01.63
- Description
-
Woman's ceremonial belt (hizam ksour al-saf murabba') made of silk. Belt has red silk warp with multi-coloured weft-faced patterns. Horizontal bands of light blue and red at either end followed by bands divided into rectangles in alternating combinations of olive green and yellow, pink and light blue, olive green and orange. Each band is separated from the next by narrow lines of black and white; also used to subdivide the rectangles. Long twisted red silk tassels at either end.
- Production date
- 1997-1998
- Dimensions
-
Length: 506 centimetres
-
Width: 10 centimetres (folded (as worn))
-
Width: 41 centimetres (unfolded)
- Curator's comments
- Eth.Doc.362. This belt was made in one of the weaving shops owned by Karim al-Arousse in Mahdia but made for sale in the neighbouring town of Ksour al-Saf for use by women on ceremonial occasions. It is usually worn folded in four with a blue silk garment (rida' azraq). The word murabba' used to describe the belt means square or four-fold and may apply to the means of folding and tying the belt and/or the form of the predominant patterns.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition date
- 1998
- Acquisition notes
- This fieldwork collection was purchased, together with Af1998,02-03, using BP (British Petroleum) sponsorship in February-March 1998. This belt was purchased new from Karim al-Arousse in Mahdia on 5.3.98 for 120 TD (Tunisian Dinar).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1998,01.63