Headdress

The collection record classifies this work as garment. It is dated 1800s. Recorded culture or place: probably southeastern Europe, Balkans.

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OBJECT RECORD

A closer look at the details.

Museum title: Headdress
Date: 1800s
Culture / origin: probably southeastern Europe, Balkans
Materials and technique: Linen, shells, glass beads, metal coins
Dimensions: Average: 142.2 x 33 cm (56 x 13 in.)
Artist / maker: Not specified by the museum
Museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art
Accession number: 1916.1457

FROM THE MUSEUM

In the museum’s words

The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.

This long, colorful headdress would hang over the head and down a woman's back. It consists of several panels of linen sewn together, and densely embroidered with silk thread. On the middle panel, small black, red, white, yellow, and red beads are stitched to create geometric designs. Double rows of small cowrie shells outline them, and metal coins with a crescent moon motif also feature in the decoration. These are first punctured, then stitched onto the textile. The lowermost edge is finished with a red fringe.

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