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Kamis
Kamis
1830-1868 (made)
1830-1868 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Ethiopian kamis (dress) belonged to Queen Terunesh, or Empress Tiruwork Wube, the second wife of Emperor Tewodros II and the mother of Prince Alemayehu. The Queen died about a month after the 1868 siege of Maqdala (Magdala), while being escorted by the British army to her home province. Her possessions were then sent to England, to the Secretary of State for India, who gave this garment to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1869. Items looted during the siege were also given to the Museum.
The kamis is made from two layers of soft cotton decorated with silk embroidery in red, yellow, black and green.
The kamis is made from two layers of soft cotton decorated with silk embroidery in red, yellow, black and green.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Kamis |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton, silk, chain stitch |
| Brief description | Kamis (dress), cotton embroidered with silk, Ethiopia, 1830-1868 |
| Physical description | Kamis (dress) made from two layers of soft cotton decorated with silk embroidery in red, yellow, black and green. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by the Secretary of State for India |
| Object history | This Ethiopian kamis (dress) belonged to Queen Terunesh, or Empress Tiruwork Wube, the second wife of Emperor Tewodros II and the mother of Prince Alemayehu. The Queen died about a month after the 1868 siege of Maqdala (Magdala), while being escorted by the British army to her home province. Her possessions were then sent to England, to the Secretary of State for India, who gave this garment to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1869. Items looted during the siege were also given to the Museum. NB this accession register entry includes terminology that has fallen from usage and is now considered offensive, repeated in this record in its original historical context. Historic entry in accessions register, April 28th 1869: 'Robe, with sleeves. Silk and cotton, white, with embroidery of coloured silks in Oriental patterns on body and sleeves; belonging formerly to the Queen of Abyssinia. Abyssinian. L. 4ft 1in. W. from sleeve to sleeve 5ft 2in. / April 28th 1869 / Given by the Secretary of State for India.' See 'Set of Articles of Deceased Queen of Abyssinia' and related correspondence in British Library collections at IOR R/20/AIA/503. Anklets do not appear on this list. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This Ethiopian kamis (dress) belonged to Queen Terunesh, or Empress Tiruwork Wube, the second wife of Emperor Tewodros II and the mother of Prince Alemayehu. The Queen died about a month after the 1868 siege of Maqdala (Magdala), while being escorted by the British army to her home province. Her possessions were then sent to England, to the Secretary of State for India, who gave this garment to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1869. Items looted during the siege were also given to the Museum. The kamis is made from two layers of soft cotton decorated with silk embroidery in red, yellow, black and green. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 400-1869 |
About this object record
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| Record created | January 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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