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<em>Msimsim</em> wall hangings were one of three standard marriage gifts (<em>ṣdāq</em> or <em>mahr</em>) from a groom to a bride in Tétouan, Morocco, as recorded by marriage contracts from 1794 to 1894. These gifts indicated the financial commitment of marriage: divorce occurred if they weren’t promptly received! This <em>msimsim</em> was made from silk harvested in Tétouan, or from raw Asian silk imported via Marseille. Its traditional design is a double-sided gridded brocade (raised woven pattern), navy on one side, crimson on the other. When this was woven, at least 25 professional silk workshops flourished in Tétouan, producing bridal gifts and other goods that outsold European imports.

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Page
1
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Type
photo
Media ID
388bb7bef663cee5
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Document data

ID
163075
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "163075",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Wall Hanging (msimsim)",
    "description": "<em>Msimsim</em> wall hangings were one of three standard marriage gifts (<em>ṣdāq</em> or <em>mahr</em>) from a groom to a bride in Tétouan, Morocco, as recorded by marriage contracts from 1794 to 1894. These gifts indicated the financial commitment of marriage: divorce occurred if they weren’t promptly received! This <em>msimsim</em> was made from silk harvested in Tétouan, or from raw Asian silk imported via Marseille. Its traditional design is a double-sided gridded brocade (raised woven pattern), navy on one side, crimson on the other. When this was woven, at least 25 professional silk workshops flourished in Tétouan, producing bridal gifts and other goods that outsold European imports.",
    "date": "1800s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.86",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
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        "Q79988531"
    ],
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        "Textile"
    ],
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    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.86/2003.86_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.86/2003.86_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 314.9 x 62.5 cm (124 x 24 5/8 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan weaver(s)"
    ],
    "accession": "2003.86"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "163075",
    "label": "Wall Hanging (msimsim)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "163075",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Wall Hanging (msimsim)",
    "description": "<em>Msimsim</em> wall hangings were one of three standard marriage gifts (<em>ṣdāq</em> or <em>mahr</em>) from a groom to a bride in Tétouan, Morocco, as recorded by marriage contracts from 1794 to 1894. These gifts indicated the financial commitment of marriage: divorce occurred if they weren’t promptly received! This <em>msimsim</em> was made from silk harvested in Tétouan, or from raw Asian silk imported via Marseille. Its traditional design is a double-sided gridded brocade (raised woven pattern), navy on one side, crimson on the other. When this was woven, at least 25 professional silk workshops flourished in Tétouan, producing bridal gifts and other goods that outsold European imports.",
    "date": "1800s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.86",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79988531"
    ],
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        "Textile"
    ],
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    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.86/2003.86_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.86/2003.86_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 314.9 x 62.5 cm (124 x 24 5/8 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan weaver(s)"
    ],
    "accession": "2003.86"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Silk, dye",
    "tombstone": "Wall Hanging (msimsim), 1800s. Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan weaver(s). Silk, dye; overall: 314.9 x 62.5 cm (124 x 24 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Textile Art Alliance, 2003.86",
    "collection": "T - Islamic",
    "relatedWorks": [
        {
            "id": 111411,
            "description": "Wall Hanging (msimsim), 1600s–1800s. Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Moroccan weaver. Silk; average: 107.2 x 71.5 cm (42 3/16 x 28 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of H. A. Elsberg, 1929.908"
        }
    ],
    "didYouKnow": "Some scholars believe these checkerboard fabrics were traded, and eventually influenced patterns in some West African strip woven textiles.",
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.86",
    "creditline": "Gift of The Textile Art Alliance",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 08:28:31.309000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.86/2003.86_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 163075,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "T - Islamic",
    "med": "Silk, dye",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
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