Object History
In 2019 Sheikhah Hind bint Saqr bin Sultan Al Qassimi called upon Dr. Reem Tariq el Mutwalli to visit her at her palace in the Kelba creek (Khor Chelba), having read about The Zay Initiative through the regional press. United by their shared passion for culture and arts, the two ladies soon became friends. She gifted this article to Dr. Reem as a gesture of friendship and support to The Zay Initiative.
Sheikhah Hind bint Saqr bin Sultan Al Qassimi was born in 1957 in Khor Chelba of the emirate of Sharjah UAE. She finished her high school studies in Kelba and received her BS in Geography from Kuwait University in 1979. She founded the Kelba Girls Cultural Social and Sports Club in 1980 and has been its president ever since. She has been the President of the Teachers Association – Kelba Branch 1983 – 1985.
She is a known poet and author. She published her collection of poetry: Lofty Souls, in 1996.
Object Features
This type of tunic is very typical of the Arab Gulf region rather than the UAE, this is why it is called (kandurah), (mkhawarah) or (jallabiyah), (dara’ah) in Kuwait and (maqta’) in Saudi Arabia. It is loose-fitting, ankle-length, long-sleeved, and sports a central slit (shaj) on a rounded neckline (halj) that extends down the middle of the bodice, fastened with a row of three gilded metal coil (zari) ball buttons (’igam).
Deep purple Indian row-silk is machine embroidered (khwar) in gilded metal wire (zari), then hand embellished with golden sequence (tirtir). A wide band of embroidery in an arabesque motif surrounds the neckline and central axis (bidhah), ending with a floral medallion at groin level. The same embroidery band is then applied in two vertical lines covering the seams of the central panel, this is why the article is known as (um_’asa) in Saudi Arabia. The same band of embroidery accentuates the shoulder lines extending the length of both sleeves and adorns the sleeve cuffs. Palm-size paisley (kazuwah) motifs flanked by two leaves resembling flowers are then scattered across the article.
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