Headband - UAE

Object History 
Dr. Reem Tariq El Mutwalli Dr. Reem Tariq el Mutwallī: Founder (CEO) of the Zay Zay: (Arabic: costume, Pl. azyaā’), a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period. Initiative, a public figure, speaker and author. An expert curator and consultant in Islamic art and architecture, interior design, historic costume, and UAE heritage., The Zay Zay: (Arabic: costume, Pl. azyaā’), a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period. Initiative founder was initially contacted on Instagram by Mariam Khalfan Mohammed Khalifah al Maydi al Badwawi, who offered to volunteer and help source old artifacts from the Northern Emirates for the Zay Zay: (Arabic: costume, Pl. azyaā’), a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period. Collection. Mariam has been an invaluable addition to our team, as she connects easily with people and patiently explains our role, convincing others to help the cause. This (kandurah_arabiyah Kandūrah_‘arabīyah: (colloquial Emirati term), coined post 1990s, to refer to the qamīs-like tunic with vertical slit located on the left side of the neckline extending down the chest. The origins of this slit are believed to lie in the Punjabi (kurta) and is generally fastened using cotton thread ball-like buttons ('igham), or metal snaps (siq_w_bic) which were subsequently replaced by transparent versions.ly replaced by transparent versions. khwar_zari) is one of her finds.
Mariam came across this article together with a few more from the late Mohammed ‘Ayish al Qaydi, who passed away in the 1990s. Fortunately, his family held on to them and were willing to sell them to The Zay Zay: (Arabic: costume, Pl. azyaā’), a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period. Initiative.
 
Object Features 
Historically, the (‘igal) was used to tie the legs of the camel to pin it down to the ground. Together with the headdress (kufiyah Kūfīyah: (Arabic: takwīf: round), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf and known as (shmāgh), (ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf.), (haṭṭah), (mshadah Mshadah: (Arabic: shadda: tied tightly, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf., ḥaṭṭah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf.), (qaḍāḍah), or (jamadānah).) or (shmagh Shmāgh: (Sumerian: ish makh: headcover, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah Mshadah: (Arabic: shadda: tied tightly, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf., ḥaṭṭah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf., qaḍāḍah, jamadānah, ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf.) a large square piece of white-based woven cotton, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf. ), both can be traced back to Semitic and Middle Eastern civilisations based on old Babylon artifacts such as Elamite coins and figures and even in ancient Arabian kingdoms, and dated through antiquities including bas-reliefs and statues going back to ancient times.
This two-looped coil of black braided cord (‘igal) is worn doubled and used to keep the male headdress (ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf.) in place on the wearer's head. It is heavy and coarse enough to keep a grip on the (ghutrah Ghutrah: (Arabic: qatrah: hunting lodge, synonyms: kūfīyah, shmāgh, haṭṭah, mshadah, qaḍāḍah, jamadānah), a large square piece of woven cotton with white base, folded in half to form a triangle. The folded edge is worn across the forehead fastened by a cord (‘iqal) and draped off the shoulders. It often has geometric embroidery in a square-like pattern, the most famous being red and black. Worn in the Levant, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf.) and prevent it from slipping. The diameter of the (‘igal) is smaller than the head, thus the weight is essential to hold it centred on top of the head.
At the back some versions might have one or two long cords ending with a tassel, I this example, uncharacteristically, metal silver chains ending with three dangling silver balls are used.
Customarily made of goats' wool, where the most expensive forms are those made of Iraqi wool, and the more affordable ones are made of synthetic yarn. Mostly black in colour as is the case in this example, however, brown, white (worn by religious clerics) red, and gilded versions are known as (Shatfah

Shatfah: (Arabic; Synonym: aqal, oqal, igal and other regional dialect and spelling variations, mgassab, faisaly), a looped headband often traditionally constructed of animal hair, later silk in corded fashion and gilded silver straw worn by Arab men of affluence as status symbol to keep their head scarves in place.

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