Afghanistan, Kuchi, ca. 20th century CE. A stunning traditional Kuchi dress - quite colorful (nearly all the colors of the rainbow) as the women's' dresses of these nomadic peoples are generally more colorful than men's attire - and most likely created for a wedding. Comprised of high quality fabrics, vintage embroidery, and exemplary beadwork. The skirt is made of royal blue velvet with a silver embroidered border. The bodice features elaborate beadwork and coin danglers, and the sleeves are comprised of a spring green fabric with embroidered flowers and embroidered and beaded trims. Size: 41.5" L (105.4 cm) to hemline; waist - 30" L (76.2 cm); sleeves - 19" L (48.3 cm)
According to Richard Tapper's article, "Who are the Kuchi? Nomad self-identities in Afghanistan" published in the Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute, "'Kuchi', an Afghan Persian word meaning 'those who go on migrations', is the common generic term, used by both Afghans and foreigners, for the nomads of Afghanistan, as it has been for many decades. Most if not all the nomads, and indeed many long-settled former nomads, now acknowledge this name, yet in the 1960s and 1970s few of those so labelled used the term for themselves." (http://www.nomadsed.de/fileadmin/user_upload/redakteure/Dateien_Intern/Archiv_AG_1/Tapper_Kuchi_2008.pdf)
Provenance: private Poos collection, Overland Park, Kansas, USA; purchased from private collection in 2017 - One of the largest privately held quilt and textile collections in the world, the Poos Collection has evolved over 50 years and through extensive travels to allow for original or point of source acquisition. The collection includes international textiles and garments with an emphasis on West African textiles such as adire, aso oke, kente, and ewe woven prestige cloths as well as Central Asian textile works like this example.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#145912
Condition
One seam on the front has opened but could be repaired. There are a couple of small holes on the skirt. Repair to one of the seams of the skirt. Small area of beads missing from left sleeve trim. Some loss to beaded tassels and other beading, but most of the beading and embroidery is still strong.