Palestinian~50s~Museum~MINT~Dress~Silk~Bedouin~S-M~ Start Price USD 425.00 Current Price USD 425.00 Time Left 25 days 22 hours 41 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, September 16, 2008 End Time Monday, December 15, 2008 Location Maine See more about 'Palestinian~50s~Museum~MINT~Dress~Silk~Bedouin~S-M~' Description Circa 1950's. Rare near perfect condition!Authenticity Guaranteed. This is a beautiful museum rare piece from my collection of 30 years. Unusual orange embroidery depicting prey birds common to mountain Bedouins in the Jerusalem desert area where falcons ("Lesser Kestler" falcons) were trained by the local Bedouins. Thoba Habar, or Thoba Malas takes its name from the soft cloth which it is made. The fabric is a combination of silk and cotton usually dyed black and carries a nice sheen--also known as "Sateen" no synthetics!! material that's no longer made or exists--thick and blended with silk! if a Palestinian dress is synthetic, then know it's not an antique!. (sorry for some of the wrinkles) All handmade cross stitch hand embroidery. Condition is tribal perfect, never worn! (like new I could say!!--very well kept, never worn) There is one printed number on the crepe georgette sleeve: probably used from a UN/UNRWA supply sack; But the imperfections of the right sleeve are common; Note how the satin material on the right sleeve is sewn inside out! This is done on purpose so that the Bedouin woman who will wear this dress can fold the sleeve upward when she's working--as shown. When she's working in the market, she wants to protect the sleeve so she folds it up, but she also wants the shiny side of the satin to show, so the sleeve is sewn inside out! Just an anthropological insight from one who has lived with Bedouins! So in this dress, she used extra sateen material that shows a printed flaw, but doesn't show when she folds it as it is worn. (the sleeves are all crepe georgette) sateen is strong and luscious as is all the embroidery. The to last photo shows some speck of dust on the back bottom--that's not a flow--just a piece of dust that's NOT on the dress. Even all the hems are hand sewn and embroidered. No machine used here! Incredible embroidery which took many months to complete. Last 2 Pictures taken from a classical book about Palestinian/Bedouin/Syrian Dresses depicting a similar dress. Size is Small Measures: 14 1/2" across shoulder. 38" across bust. 38" around waist. 50" hips. 57" from shoulder to hem. Shipping : calculate. Please view my Other auctions and store for rare Palestinian/Bedouin/Syrian pieces from this collection. Please submit payment within 8 days of the end of auction. We will combine shipping for auctions ending within 6 days. Please note that insurance is optional but recommended and that seller will not be responsible for loss on uninusred items. We hold all personal checks for ten business days to clear. Please contact us for International shipping rates. All Sales are final unless item was grossly misrepresented; please contact us with any problems. Place a Bid!