The Palestinian Museum permanent collection

A white Rumi thobe (dress) from the Ramallah area made of handmade natural linen fabric and embroidered with the Fallahi (peasant) cross stitch made with predominately red silk threads. The chest panel of the thobe is embroidered with geometric, plant, and animal shapes, among them the rooster motif as seen in the middle. This rooster motif carries religious significance for Christians. The sleeves bear several plant stitch patterns to their ends, with the rooster motif in the middle.

A sirwal (also shirwal), a pair of loose black cotton trousers gathered into an elasticated waist and tapering towards the ankles. The lower part of each leg is embroidered with plant and geometric motifs in red, orange, blue, green, and white silk thread.

A square groom’s handkerchief of beige cotton, embroidered with plant and geometric motifs, including the Star of Bethlehem, in red, green, blue, and other colours of silk thread. The edges are finished with a looped border of coloured beads and silk tassels, with longer tasselled extensions at the corners. Three names are also embroidered on the handkerchief: Dalal and Fahid, thought to be those of the bride and groom, and a third, illegible name.

A thobe (dress) from the Bir al-Sabi’ area made of black linen and cotton and embroidered with the Fallahi (peasant) cross stitch made of predominately red silk thread overlapping with blue, yellow, and green colours. The chest panel of the thobe is adorned with heavy tatreez (embroidery) made up of geometric shapes, as are the shoulders and the mradan (long triangular sleeves). The lower front panel of the thobe is embroidered with broad stitch patterns made up of geometric shapes, as are the sides (al-Banayiq), which are connected with the tatreez of the front and back areas.

A Bedouin burqa from Bir al-Sabi' (Beersheba), with a cotton headband embroidered with geometric motifs in fine stitch and decorated with coins. A mitwah (ornamental strand) of blue beads, agate, coral, and amber hangs from either side, ending in a coin; a cotton tie beside each strand secures the burqa around the head. The face-covering shakkah is made of hermazi silk and embroidered in silk thread, with a row of Ottoman coins attached.

A bag made of white linen and cotton surrounded with embroidered plant shapes, in the middle of which is a full flowerpot motif. Its tatreez (embroidery) is made of red, yellow, green, and blue threads. The bag has a wooden handle with camels and roses burnt-carved into it, and on it is written in Arabic (Made in Hebron).

A Malak (king) thobe (dress) from the Bethlehem area, its fabric was made using a handloom and it is distinguished by its dark colour and sparse tatreez (embroidery). It is embroidered with gilded and silk threads that are predominately orange. The chest panel of the thobe is embroidered with plant shapes and tahriri stitch (couching), while the edges are surrounded by the manajil (sickles) motif.

A burqa from Bir al-Sabi' (Beersheba) and southern Sinai, with a cotton headband embroidered with geometric motifs and decorated with coins. A cord attached to both ends of the headband secures the burqa behind the head. The shakkah, or face-covering panel, is made of hermazi silk and embroidered with the manajil (sickle) motif in silk thread. It is densely decorated with Ottoman coins, and five silver chains known as ma'ari hang from each side.

A bride’s mirror holder and kohl (eyeliner) maker made of cotton and cloth. It is embroidered with geometric and plant shapes and its tatreez (embroidery) is made of red, black, and orange silk threads. It has an opening at the top in which the kohl bottle is placed, and from its lower part hangs the mirror wrapped in a piece of cloth and decorated with coloured lace and beads. It is decorated with pieces of Ottoman currency.

From the southern Hebron area, this ʿiraqiyya (small headwrap) is made of heavy cotton cloth and embroidered throughout in silk thread, predominantly red. It is decorated with several coins and has two embroidered lappets, known as laffayef, ending in wool tassels decorated with blue beads. Brides often wrapped the laffayef around their hair or necks, with the tasselled ends hanging over their chests.