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A women’s traditional waistcoat of mainland Greek type, an outstanding example of high dressmaking artistry from the early 20th century. The garment is handmade, with a base of tightly woven woollen cloth, lined on the inside with cotton wadding for insulation and structural stability. The edges are neatly finished with red wool braid, serving both decorative and protective purposes.
Its surface is densely covered with metallic thread (“gold thread”), applied using techniques such as:
• Byzantine applied goldwork (couching),
• laid wire thread,
• folded work to create relief embroidery,
• and small embellishments using beads and wire ornaments.
The motifs—elongated stylised vegetal forms, spirals, flowers, and rosettes—are characteristic of the traditional gold embroidery of the period’s urban centres. The waistcoat is further adorned with metallic fringe made from twisted threads, adding movement and visual weight to the hem.
The garment was an engagement gift to Gesthimani Sakaloglou from a merchant and associate of her father in Greece, a fact that attests both to its quality and its economic value. The object’s fine workmanship reflects the high level of traditional dressmaking and the wider commercial and cultural exchanges between Alaya and the Greek mainland.
Donated to the collection of the Alaya Association by Evangelia Mandona–Nouveloglou, it is exhibited at the ALAYA Cultural Centre.
| Inventory Number | 1501 |
|---|---|
| Date | 1918 |
| Ingredients | Wool, cotton, gold |
| Dimensions | H62cm – W33cm |
| Provenance | Alaya, Asia Minor |
