Eight Kippot (skullcaps). Bukhara, Uzbekistan and the vicinity, [first half of 20th century]. Silk, velvet, cotton; cardboard (some of the Kippot); embroidery in golden and colorful threads. Embroidered Kippot for Shabbat, holidays, weddings and special occasions. Various styles: some Kippot are pointed while others are flat or round. Some are with a woven border ribbon, some have a fringe. The style of embroidery varies from simple geometric patterns to complex ones. Average diameter: 15 cm, average height: 10 cm. Overall good condition. Unraveled threads to some Kippot, wear and usage marks. Enclosed is an Ashkenazi Kippah with Stars of David.

1. Headdress - Rumoli pulaktcha. Bukhara. White cotton tulle, with embroidered silvery sequins (Pulaktcha). These shawls were used mainly as ceremonial headdresses for brides. Decorated with Stars of David, Hamsas and Menorahs. 2. Belt for Kaftan (?). Morocco. Golden thread embroidery on cardboard lining, and velvet. Elaborate buckle with engraved vegetal patterns. 3. Breastplate. Morocco. Part of bride’s attire. Morocco. Golden thread embroidery in vegetal patterns. Size and condition vary.

1. Amulet shaped as a leaf, with two loops with a decorated stripe of a silver thread between them. Engraved on one side (“Shoshana Bat Zipora”). [Persia-Jerusalem]. 2. Rectangular amulet with trimmed corners, with loop. Engraved on one side, with names of Garden Of Eden Rivers. [Persia or Jerusalem]. 3. Square amulet, with loop. Engraved on both sides. On one side appear initials and on the other side a Star of David with the inscription “Emet Devarav…” and various letters. [Baghdad, Iraq]. 4. Amulet shaped as a hand (Hamsa), with G-d’s name embossed and engraved. [Persia, Kurdistan?]. Size varies. Overall good condition.

Items from a bridal costume. Tétouan, Morocco, [late 19th century]. Velvet, metal-threads embroidery on cardboard. Offered here are three items from the “Great Dress”, a dress which served Jewish women in Morocco at their wedding and afterwards was worn on festive occasions and on Jewish festivals. 1. A wrap-around skirt with golden embroidery made of blue velvet with decorations made of golden ribbons. The skirt consists of several parts sewn together at the waist. On the inside part near the waistline, appears a star which is considered an abstraction of a hand – Hamsa. Width of skirt at hem: 260 cm, length: 100 cm. Good-fair condition, holes, tears and amendments. 2. An elaborate vest – short and tight, with short sleeves (the custom was to wear under the vest wide lace sleeves). Large circles, similar to decorations of shrouds from Tétouan, are embroidered with golden ribbons. Length: 50 cm, width: 50 cm. Fair condition. Vest’s buttons are missing. Tears and holes. 3. Braided wig (part of a bride’s headdress) made of a band with black silk threads, braided. Diameter: 21 cm, length of braids: 70 cm. Good condition. Some unraveled parts on the inside.

Bridal costume. Iraq, early 20th century. Tulle; cotton embroidered with golden thread. The costume consists of a skirt, blouse and scarf, embroidered and sewn by hand, made of tulle, with golden threads Jap embroidery. Two Stars of David with the word “Zion” within are embroidered next to the neckline. The skirt and blouse are adorned with a floral pattern and rhombus-shaped ornamentations. A larger flower is embroidered on the hem. A decorative plead is sewn in the center of the skirt. The skirt has an elastic string. The scarf is embroidered with stars, a decorative tree and a bird in the corners. Skirt: length: 82 cm, width: 62 cm; blouse: length: 56 cm, width: 43 cm; length of sleeves: 62 cm; scarf: 130X130 cm. Overall condition: fair-good. Small holes to tulle fabric. Three small stains to scarf. Elastic string of skirt fastened with safety pins. For additional information about Jap Embroidery in Iraq, see: Shimmering Gold, The Splendor of Gold Embroidered Textiles (Exhibition catalogue, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel-Aviv, 2007), pp.36-46.