Photo of installation at the Oriental Institute Museum

Bir Sabe‘ The Bir Sabe‘ area was mainly inhabited by semi-nomadic Bedouin. Most dresses in this area were made of a dark blue or black fabric (as this example), embroidered with bright colors. The color of the embroidery of the lower back and front part of the thob skirt indicates the woman’s marital status. Only married women embroidered their dresses in red, orange, yellow, and green; unmarried girls and widows embroidered their dresses in blue, as in this example. The sleeves are long and triangular, and women tied them behind their back when they needed to work. As is typical in this region, the garment is embroidered with stylized geometric cross-stitch rather than with thematic patterns. In contrast to dresses from other areas that are composed of different types of fabric, Bir Sabe‘ dresses are often entirely of the same material. The head veil made of the blue or black cotton material is embroidered in the middle in reds, orange, and green with patterns similar to those on the dress. The face decoration (burqa‘) is distinctively Bedouin and is worn by married women. This example is composed of an embroidered band fastened around the forehead and ornamented with beads and coins on each side. A narrow piece of fabric adorned with coins on silver chains and silver and brass coins stitched onto the fabric hangs from the brow band. The burqa‘ was worn for modesty and to protect the wearer from the heat and sand of the desert. There are 301 coins on this burqa‘. Dress: embroidery on black cotton, PHC 150 Face decoration: cotton, fine linen, silver coins, PHC 151 Shawl: embroidery on cotton, PHC 153