Textiles and Stuff 

This is a traditional garment from Syria called an Abba or Abeya which is sometimes all in one piece or with a front opening like this example. The fabric used is hand woven in shades of old gold and white, with a blue stripe, and the garment is made of three rectagonal sections. The seams are trimmed with a gold plaited braid and it is a loose fitting garment. It has no fastenings. There is a geometric design of the traditional shape on the back and running from the shoulders down the front of the of the robe. The abba is in very good condition and the only fault I can find is a few caught threads here and there which are not noticeable. THe goods will be despatched by first class signed for delivery which includes insurance, in the U.K. £6.75, for Europe 13.50 and for the U.S. £18.

This is a beautifully embroidered silk bodice or choli from India for a young girl which may have been for a marriage. It shows a variety of fabrics, a pinky red silk, a deep red and gold brocade and a deep red and gold border round the sleeves. There is also a triangular turquoise silk section in the underarm area. The top of the bodice and sleeves are embroidered in a couched gold thread in a traditional pattern of floral and other shapes, and this is enhanced with the addition of gold coloured sequins. There is just one tape to fasten at the back neck, the other one is missing. The bodice is in excellent condition and a lovely example of its type, and the colours are bright and unfaded. Postage in the U.K. would be by signed for delivery, first class, and the charge would be £4, which includes insurance. For overseas delivery, the charge is £10.50 to the U.S. and Canada, Asia and Australia, and £9.50 to Europe.

An ideal present for the collector! The embroidery is of high quality and the hat would make a wonderful item for display. It is an old traditional embroidered Chinese child’s hat which was made especially for a festival and embroidered by hand. It is has a basic cap shape in black cotton sateen, with narrow braid at the edge. This is embroidered all round with beautiful flower sprays in shades of pink, red and blue. The top of the hat is decorated with a cockerel with wings with red and green pompoms and glass silver coloured beads. Below this is a silver metal figure sewn on at the front and some braid with small red pompoms. At the back of the hat is a curved point with a pompom on a spring to give movement. The hat is lined in cream cotton. There is very little wear, and the hat is in excellent condition. The colours are very bright and fresh and the hat would be an interesting example for a collection.

This is an old traditional embroidered Chinese child’s hat which was made especially for a festival and embroidered by hand. It has a basic cap shape in maroon cotton sateen, with narrow braid at the edge. The top of the hat is decorated with two silk flowers with four petals each, on a sprung stalk which causes movement. On both sides are birds protruding, each holding two tassels in bright colours. The crown is decorated with separately made leaves and flowers, each individually finely embroidered with different flowers and insects, and at the centre top wiith a flower standing up, containing a girl juggling with four coloured balls. Parts of the hat are decorated with tiny beads and a metal flower with a central stone. The hat is lined in dark pink printed cotton. There is very little wear, a few beads are missing, but overall the hat is in excellent condition. The colours are very bright and fresh and the hat would be an unusual example for a collection. This hat is post free in the U.K. Please contact me for overseas postage.

CENTRAL ASIAN PATCHWORK QUILT This is a good example of a quilt from Central Asia, probably from Usbekistan or Kirghizistan. It is made mainly from cotton, cut in strips and put together in a style similar to Log Cabin. The squares in the middle of the sections are made of silk velvet or heavy cotton in dark red, dark green and brown. The pile on these squares run in different directions and so give an impression of colour variation in the photographs. In one corner of the quilt the small triangular pieces are made of an orange chintz instead of the white fabric in the rest of it. The edge is finished with a strip of orange cotton. The back is lined with a floral cotton which probably originated in Russia. This is a fascinating piece of ethnic work and illustrates how designs travelled many miles round the world and turn up in unexpected places.

VINTAGE PIECE OF TRADITIONAL MUD CLOTH FROM MALI This is a vintage piece of Mud cloth or Bogolanfini from Mali in West Africa. It was traditionally made by women and the fabric was made of ten handwoven narrow strips of cotton cloth which are stitched together before dyeing. The designs are made with a combination of local plant dyes and river mud which contains the essential chemicals to create the colour. They were worn as garments and often conferred status. The mud cloth is in good sturdy condition but there are a few holes, the largest being near the edge at the bottom and visible in the last photo. There are a three other smaller ones also in the bottom section of the cloth. This is not a modern piece and had had some use, and it is difficult for me to be precise about its date. Ref 6752 I send all goods by Royal Mail first class signed for delivery.

This is a set of uncut edgings for a Chinese robe worked on a background of dark blue silk. It is embroidered in couched work in shades of gold, green, red, turquoise and old gold in a design of floral sprays, with solid segments for the collar. The borders are approximately 3 1/2 inches wide and the whole piece measures 30 x 21 inches. The colours are very bright and fresh. The whole piece is in excellent condition.