Object History
Dr. Reem Tariq El Mutwalli 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 Collection. Mariam is an invaluable asset to the team as she connects easily with people and patiently explains our role, convincing others to help the cause. This gold embroidered tulle head veil (shaylah tur zari) is one of her finds, discovered in Khor Kalba, an exclave of the emirate of Sharjah on the eastern coast of the UAE
Mariam bought this article from Mozah Abdullah Rashid al Qaydi, to add to The Zay Collection. A delightful elder woman in her late sixties, who never had any formal school education. She was married at the young age of 14 and gave birth to 7 daughters and 2 sons. Warm and hospitable, she loved to talk and tell stories.
Object Features
The rectangular black net (tur) veil (shaylah) sports a decorative hemline featuring machine embroidered, chain stitch, in a gold metallic thread (zari), with two stylised interpretations of wave motifs. The embellishment is approximately 3 cm wide at its deepest point and runs the full length and width of the veil’s hemline creating a boarder. This is a typical feature, popular in the 1970s and 1980s throughout the Arab Gulf region.
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