SUSANDSCHIRD.
Silk, gold, silver
Taher Sabahi

WOMEN’S SHAWLS FROM TUNISIA.
Use, manufacturing techniques and traditional decorations
Chiara Battini, Luca Sguaitzer

A study of sumptuous textiles highlighted with precious yarns, made from the first millennium BC onwards by many eastern populations.
Even the earliest history and the legends of Eastern civilisations are rich in references to sumptuous fabrics brightened with gold, used to represent regal power or symbolise divinity.
Thanks to their warm sheen, precious metals – and gold in particular – have in many cultures been associated with a solar cult and have been attributed magical and talismanic properties. ( ... )

Shawls are textiles that women wear to cover their shoulders. At times, they are very large and can be folded over at the front, forming a sort of cape covering from head to foot.
While the city-based elite in the north of the country have been weaving and wearing shawls of rare beauty, often of silk and in sophisticated colours for some time, the tradition of weaving shawls was more common amongst the Berber population of the mountainous regions to the south of Gabes (Jabaliya), and the Arab population of Sahel, a region north of Sfax including the centres of El Jam and Jebeniana, both of which cultures were less urbanised and used to produce woollen shawls.
Curious and refined, shawls are functional garments but also a way of providing information about the persons wearing them.
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Prayer rugs, ayatlyk and asmalyk are studied and their technical details and design compared.
The beliefs and values of the people of a nation or a region have always conditioned the way of life in that region. Around the world household utensils have acquired various forms according to these different ways of life. Occasionally, the utensils that are used at home bear the symbols. (...)