Coat

Unknown

fourth quarter 19th century · silk, metal · Costume Institute

This sleeveless coat from Shkodër (Scutari) on the Albanian-Montenegrin border demonstrates a remarkable degree of craftsmanship in its lavish use of gold cord, variety of curvilinear shapes, and use of negative space. The density of applied work against velvet is meant to replicate a rich and complex compound weave. The motifs show influences drawn from Ottoman design and demonstrate the cross-cultural effects of the region.

Artist

Unknown

Date

fourth quarter 19th century

Medium

silk, metal

Culture

Albanian

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Van S. Merle-Smith, 1933