dress BM-As1992-16.1

Period:Unknown Production date:20thC
Materials:wool
Technique:twill weave, brocaded, dyed,

Dimensions:Length: 136 centimetres Width: 94 centimetres (max)

Description:
A woman’s ceremonial coat, a ‘sikok’; ankle-length. ‘The garment is made up of 2/2 twill, handwoven, woollen, plain dark red or black panels alternating with striped and cross-patterned, multicoloured panels: there is a brocade covering over the shoulders. All panels are weft-faced, the plain coloured ones felted. The multicoloured, weft striped panels have blue and red cross patterns, ‘thig ma’, which are tie-dye patterns of a most unusual kind and achieved by folding the four arms of each cross and tying them up. The tips are then pulled through holes in the bottom of a big pot so that they protrude through the base. The base of the pot with tips is then dipped into a bath of dye. The other parts of the cloth are protected from the dye by the pot (Müller and Raunig 1982, 157).’ [from: Dunsmore, Susi 1993, Nepalese Textiles: 156]
IMG


Comments:Donations book: ‘A Sherpani ceremonial dress.’ ‘Worn by Sherpa women on special occasions only – festivals, marriage ceremonies, and when honoured guests are received and offered drinks. The coat is always worn open and is usually just draped over the shoulders, except during the marriage ceremony, when the bride, bedecked with jewellery, wears it like a coat. The Sherpa names for the garment, ‘sikok’ or ‘angi tangtza’ (angi: woman’s dress; ‘tangtza’: ornament or tassel), indicate that this garment, thought of Tibetan origin, has been worn by Sherpa women for generations. It is rarely made by Sherpas, however, but is either handed down from one generation to another or obtained from Tibet.’ [from: Dunsmore, Susi 1993, Nepalese Textiles: 154 – 156] Further details on page 156. For a very similar coat see: As1980,Q.254.