Bindalli Wedding Dress

Unknown

mid-19th–early 20th century · Cotton, metal wrapped thread; embroidered · Islamic Art

Worn for weddings and other occasions by Muslim and Jewish women in the Balkans and Anatolia, bindalli (bindallı in Turkish) dresses were typically made of velvet in deep jewel tones, such as this purple velvet. They were decorated with extensive gold embroidery in a style called dival, which employed the floral designs which give this group of dresses their name, bindalli, meaning thousand branches. The round neck, front opening, dropped shoulders and full sleeves seen here are typical of bindalli dresses. This example has particularly extensive gold embroidery almost completely covering the dress fabric, with large scale blossoms, chains, tassels and other motifs coming together to create a bold and striking embroidered design. Popular among women of different economic classes, bindalli dresses vary in the extent of their embroidery; this example would have been made for a woman from a wealthy family.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-19th–early 20th century

Medium

Cotton, metal wrapped thread; embroidered

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Irene Lewisohn and Alice L. Crowley Bequests, 1979