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Burqa

1800-1880 (made)

Burqa, white cotton with silk whitework embroidery, Afghanistan, 1800-1880

Object details

Object type
Burqa
Brief description
Burqa, white cotton with silk whitework embroidery, Afghanistan, 1800-1880
Gallery label
(31/08/2012)
Burqa with Footed Trousers
Afghanistan
About 1850
In 19th-century Iran and Afghanistan, Muslim women were usually fully veiled when they went out in public. They wore an outer layer over their indoor clothing and covered their faces. In Iran, this was often a sheet of dark blue or black textile (chador) worn with a white face-veil (ru-band) attached separately. This white cotton burqa from Afghanistan however, combines both elements. It has embroidered openwork over the eyes. Women would have worn the burqa with matching loose-footed trousers (chaqchur), with their skirts tucked inside. This outfit was worn with heeled slippers or boots.
White cotton with silk embroidery and green baize
Museum nos. IS.9 to C-1954

Jameel Gallery
Credit line
Presented by Mrs Maidstone Smyth, 49, Linden Gardens
Object history
Placed in Room V in the museum, 14 August, 1889.

Presented by Mrs Maidstone Smyth, 49, Linden Gardens. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.23:1-1889

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O480364/burqa/
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