Traditional headband - Syria

Object Note  
This traditional headband (shatfah) is part of a two-piece ensemble which also includes a brown and gold cloak (abayah  ‘Abāyah: (Arabic: cloak, Pl. ‘abāyāt, or ‘Ibī. In Classical Arabic: ‘abā’ah, pl: ‘abā’āt, synonyms: ‘Abā, ‘abāh, ‘abāt, dafah Daffah : (Arabic: side, synonyms: ‘Abā, ‘abāyah, ‘abāh, ‘abāt, bisht or mishlaḥ), long, wide, and sleeveless outer cloak worn in public by both sexes. In time this article of dress evolved and changed in shape, style, and function., bisht, or mishlaḥ), long, wide, and sleeveless outer cloak worn in public by both sexes. In time this article of dress evolved and changed in shape, style, and function.) (ZI2019.500742.1 Syria).
 
Object History
Purchased from a Kerry Taylor auction in 2019, along with an abayah  ‘Abāyah: (Arabic: cloak, Pl. ‘abāyāt, or ‘Ibī. In Classical Arabic: ‘abā’ah, pl: ‘abā’āt, synonyms: ‘Abā, ‘abāh, ‘abāt, dafah Daffah : (Arabic: side, synonyms: ‘Abā, ‘abāyah, ‘abāh, ‘abāt, bisht or mishlaḥ), long, wide, and sleeveless outer cloak worn in public by both sexes. In time this article of dress evolved and changed in shape, style, and function., bisht, or mishlaḥ), long, wide, and sleeveless outer cloak worn in public by both sexes. In time this article of dress evolved and changed in shape, style, and function. (ZI2019.500742.1 SYRIA), and three headbands (ZI2019.500742.2 SYRIA), (ZI2019.500742.3 SYRIA), (ZI2019.500742.4 SYRIA)
 
Object Description  
This is a traditional Syrian headband known historically as shatfah, Amiri, (mgassab), (faisaliyah). 
This shatfah is handmade in Syria in the traditional way. Bundles of natural brown wool thread form the circular shape to fit around the head, ending with black and gold silk thread and knotted with a twisted brown chord ending with a small burgundy tassel. Silk thread in black and gold tightly wrapped around each bundle at seven points around the band. The parts of wool thread left unwrapped puff out and appear to form eight knot-like nodes, while the tightly wrapped portions look like ribs. This example is less elaborate than others, in that the unwrapped portions are larger than the wrapped sections, also less golden thread was used in the wrapping.  
When worn, a man will wrap the shatfah twice around his head over the top of his (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. ), leaving the ties and tassel hanging behind his neck. 
 
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Traditional shatfah headbands are often made of goat or camel hair, or silk threads, with golden threads. The form has remained consistent for generations, as evident from old pictures.  
Sources mention that the traditional shatfah originated in Syria, first worn by all classes of Bedouin men. Indeed, pictures taken by travelers in the 18th century confirm this. Later, men from the Arab Gulf region began to adopt the shatfah, specifically in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates, and Bahrain. Given that silk and gold threads are expensive materials, not everyone could afford to wear this item of dress, thus in the Arab Gulf, only men from the wealthy classes wore shatfah.  
In the 1960s the traditional Syrian shatfah became associated with King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who used to wear a white and gold one on his head, and thus the item is now known colloquially as iqal (faisaly

Faīṣaly: (Arabic - headband; Synonym: iqal, oqal

Oqal: (Arabic - headband; Synonym: igal, iqal, mgassab, mqassab

Mqaṣṣab: (Arabic - headband; Synonym: iqal, oqal, igal, mgassab, shatfah, faisaly), a looped headband often traditionally constructed of animal hair and later silk in corded fashion worn by men of the Arab world to keep their scarves in place.

, shatfah, faisaly), a looped headband often traditionally constructed of animal hair and later silk in corded fashion worn by men of the Arab world to keep their scarves in place.

, igal, mgassab, mqassab

Mqaṣṣab: (Arabic - headband; Synonym: iqal, oqal, igal, mgassab, shatfah, faisaly), a looped headband often traditionally constructed of animal hair and later silk in corded fashion worn by men of the Arab world to keep their scarves in place.

, shatfah), a looped headband often traditionally constructed of animal hair and later silk in corded fashion worn by men of the Arab world to keep their scarves in place.

) or faisaliyah.