Head Adornment

Head Adornment

by | European jewellery, Reviews

traditional costume and identity

Head Adornment

One of the aspects of personal appearance that always stands out is what we wear on our head. Headdresses have a practical as well as a communicative and spiritual side. They protect our hair and face from the elements, but also serve to elongate our person, impress onlookers and communicate status. They are agents of transformation, and they are important all over the globe. The National Museum in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, devoted an exhibition to headdresses, curated by Irene Steiner, who also put together the accompanying catalogue Head adornment, traditional costume, and identity.

The focus of this volume is on headdress from Europe: over three quarters of the 200-page publication explores a variety of regional European head adornment. Two chapters (9 and 13), form the main matter of the book. Chapter 9 presents brief explorations highlighting the many angles of costume and dress study. From lived experiences to repurposing and revaluating traditional dress, gravestones as historic source and traditional dress on Halloween, this chapter is a collection of thoughts and observations that may further the study of dress. Chapter 13 presents a selection of regional headdress variations, each with a brief description. Surrounding these main chapters are short essays on particular headdresses like the stunning Radhaube and Reginahaube, hats, bonnets, head scarves and much more. The photographs of these headdresses worn are just stunning, as they are combined with the dress they would go with: an absolutely splendid and colourful view!

An interesting intermezzo is the photographic essay by Frank Rossbach. Here, headdress elements are worn and styled without regard for their historical ‘correctness’, and more as fashion statement. The accompanying text raises important topics like exotification and romanticizing traditional dress, along with problematic issues such as nationalization and commodification of dress and adornment. These topics are not explored, only mentioned, but their inclusion in a publication about traditional dress hopefully raises awareness that dress study is about so much more than just fabric and models.

The final two chapters provide a reflection on headdress from non-Western countries. Hair adornment from four continents is presented, followed by a selection of head ornaments (worn often over, on or in the headdress proper) from Africa and Asia. Where the previous chapters are accompanied by in-depth texts, these two chapters are for the most part visual and have an introductory paragraph that can only remain general in nature due to space constraints. The importance of hair jewellery for example, associated with the cultural significance of hair and hair styles, is not touched upon – but as the author wrote in the introduction, there is no single book that can encompass any and all head and hair jewellery.

Given the often personal and/or religious importance of head ornaments, there are a few instances in the book where I did wonder whether depicting them worn out of context is the best approach. Of course, the aim of the book is to educate and honour the cultures these head adornments come from. But in the case of for example the Oromo headdress (p. 172), the ornament carries a much a deeper significance. It is considered to be a living object, a sacral emblem. [1] In a case like this, however illustrative wearing it may be, presenting it as stand-alone object might be the more sensitive choice.

This publication offers a huge number of images, making it a valuable visual reference. The texts with each chapter vary in length and depth of discussion, but raise important points in the study of dress and adornment. Notably the need for research in private collections is addressed time and again throughout the book, a need I can only confirm from my own work with private collections. Each and every chapter in this book could easily be the central topic of book on its own, given time and resources, and I sincerely hope the opportunity to create them will arise in the near future. In the meantime, I’m sure you will enjoy this visual reference feast!

Head adornment, Traditional Costume and Identity. Europe, Asia, Africa, by Irene Steiner, 2022

201 pages, full-colour, bilingual German/English. Available with the author.

The book was gifted by the author.

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References

[1] Megerssa, G. & A. Kassam 2019. Sacred Knowledge Traditions of the Oromo of the Horn of Africa, Fifth World Publications, Durham/Finfinnee, p. 243-244

Sigrid van Roode

Sigrid van Roode is an archeologist, ethnographer and jewellery historian. She considers jewellery heritage and a historic source. She has authored several books on jewellery from North Africa and Southwest Asia, and on archaeological jewellery. Sigrid has lectured for the Society of Jewellery Historians, the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden and the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, among many others. She curates exhibitions and teaches online courses on jewellery from North Africa & Southwest Asia.

Costumes of Saudi Arabia

Costumes of Saudi Arabia

by | Reviews

dress collection

Traditional Costumes of Saudi Arabia

Finally, a book about traditional dress in Saudi Arabia! The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a relatively closed world. Its rich heritage in dress and adornment is not all that well known outside the region. The Mansoojat Foundation has assembled a large collection of traditional dress over the years, which is now published in the colourful volume Traditional Costumes of Saudi Arabia.

The book is based on the collection itself. Although it clearly states in the introduction that the book is not meant as an exhaustive and complete discussion of traditional dress in Saudi Arabia, it certainly is not limited but offers a very wide introduction into various tribes and regions. It does not contain a contemporary map though, so you’ll have to look elsewhere to find where the tribes and cities mentioned are located. The book also does not contain references or a bibliography. That having been said: there is much to see in this book!

The book is a cooperation of 9 authors and 3 editors, so as to make sure each region or tribe is discussed by a specialist best versed in that area. This results in a recognizable style for each author: some chapters are longer and more detailed than others, but each of the chapters provides background information on the tribe or region presented. And each chapter is such a visual feast: the dress items in the collection are shown from several angles and not limited to a front view, which I find very informative. Even more informative are the sections where the order in which items of clothing are put on, are illustrated. This provides the reader with a detailed understanding of how the various elements function, such as the six elements that form the headdress of women of the Bani Sa’ad tribe. I enjoyed the line drawings and diagrams of costume schemes, as these greatly add to understanding complex items of dress.

All of the chapters are lavishly illustrated, not just with the costumes in the collection but also with landscape photographs, views of architecture, scenes of daily life and historical photographs. As there is no page without a photograph, this full colour book is as much an introduction into Saudi Arabia itself as in its costumes. A valuable glossary in the back explains clothing terms and names as well as fabrics and decoration techniques. Where possible, the accompanying jewellery has been included as well. This is also most informative: for example, the well-known rings with granulation and coral or glass beads, as they are also worn in Yemen and Ethiopia, are shown as part of the headdress of a woman of the Yam tribe: a great illustration of how closely connected dress and jewellery are! The names of jewellery items themselves are only presented in very few instances, but seeing them worn provides them with much needed context.

Traditional Costumes of Saudi Arabia is the only one of its kind in its coverage, illustrations and background information that is readily and widely available: you will want to add this to your bookshelf! A beautiful publication that introduces the colourful world of dress in Saudi Arabia: the preface expresses the hope that this book will form an important introduction to the costumes and heritage of Saudi Arabia, and I’d say that that has definitely succeeded.

Traditional Costumes of Saudi Arabia. The Mansoojat Foundation Collection. Edited by Lamya F. Algharib, Hamida Alireza and Richard Wilding. ACC Art Books, 2021. 320 pages, full colour. In English

Available with the Mansoojat Foundation, the publisher, and online stores such as Amazon.

The book was purchased through bol.com.

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Sigrid van Roode

Sigrid van Roode is an archeologist, ethnographer and jewellery historian. She considers jewellery heritage and a historic source. She has authored several books on jewellery from North Africa and Southwest Asia, and on archaeological jewellery. Sigrid has lectured for the Society of Jewellery Historians, the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden and the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, among many others. She curates exhibitions and teaches online courses on jewellery from North Africa & Southwest Asia.