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This panel was part of an urban Tunisian woman’s head-covering (<em>‘ajar</em>). Two such panels flanked a face-obscuring black panel. Such luxurious garments of seclusion were once reserved for elites. The decorative panels draped down when worn, showing off the finely woven motifs and demonstrating the wearer’s family wealth. Arranged in bands, motifs include stylized trees (or protective hands), flowers, eight-pointed stars, and geometric designs. The mirrored Kufic (squared Arabic script) lettering in teal is likely the name of the weaver or panel owner. Weavers with Muslim Andalusian (southern Spanish) heritage originally made these, drawing from Andalusian and Turkish motifs; later, workshops in Tunis produced them.

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Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
73acf3abf8e71c03
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
130598
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "130598",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Panel from a Head Covering (‘Ajar)",
    "description": "This panel was part of an urban Tunisian woman’s head-covering (<em>‘ajar</em>). Two such panels flanked a face-obscuring black panel. Such luxurious garments of seclusion were once reserved for elites. The decorative panels draped down when worn, showing off the finely woven motifs and demonstrating the wearer’s family wealth. Arranged in bands, motifs include stylized trees (or protective hands), flowers, eight-pointed stars, and geometric designs. The mirrored Kufic (squared Arabic script) lettering in teal is likely the name of the weaver or panel owner. Weavers with Muslim Andalusian (southern Spanish) heritage originally made these, drawing from Andalusian and Turkish motifs; later, workshops in Tunis produced them.",
    "date": "probably 1800s or early 1900s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1953.320",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79912524"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Textile"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 117.2 x 53.4 cm (46 1/8 x 21 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, probably Testour or Tunis, Tunisian weaver"
    ],
    "accession": "1953.32"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "130598",
    "label": "Panel from a Head Covering (‘Ajar)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "130598",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Panel from a Head Covering (‘Ajar)",
    "description": "This panel was part of an urban Tunisian woman’s head-covering (<em>‘ajar</em>). Two such panels flanked a face-obscuring black panel. Such luxurious garments of seclusion were once reserved for elites. The decorative panels draped down when worn, showing off the finely woven motifs and demonstrating the wearer’s family wealth. Arranged in bands, motifs include stylized trees (or protective hands), flowers, eight-pointed stars, and geometric designs. The mirrored Kufic (squared Arabic script) lettering in teal is likely the name of the weaver or panel owner. Weavers with Muslim Andalusian (southern Spanish) heritage originally made these, drawing from Andalusian and Turkish motifs; later, workshops in Tunis produced them.",
    "date": "probably 1800s or early 1900s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1953.320",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79912524"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Textile"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 117.2 x 53.4 cm (46 1/8 x 21 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, probably Testour or Tunis, Tunisian weaver"
    ],
    "accession": "1953.32"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Silk, metal, dye",
    "tombstone": "Panel from a Head Covering (‘Ajar), probably 1800s or early 1900s. Africa, North Africa, Tunisia, probably Testour or Tunis, Tunisian weaver. Silk, metal, dye; overall: 117.2 x 53.4 cm (46 1/8 x 21 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1953.320",
    "collection": "T - Islamic",
    "didYouKnow": "The <em>khamsah</em> (خمسة), an open five-fingered hand, is a protective motif. It is woven in red in multiple ways on this panel.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Chakerian, Peter. “'Maghreb' sews artistic traditions of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.” <em>The Plain Dealer</em> (Friday, November 1, 2024): D1, D5."
        },
        {
            "citation": "Gebremedhen, Helina. “Arts of the Maghreb: North African Textiles and Jewelry – Curatorial Reflections.” <em>Journal 18</em>, Issue #19 (Spring 2025).",
            "url": "https://www.journal18.org/19-africa/arts-of-the-maghreb-north-african-textiles-and-jewelry-curatorial-reflections/"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Gillow, John. <em>African Textiles: Colour and Creativity Across a Continent.</em> London: Thames &amp; Hudson, 2003.",
            "page_number": "p. 232"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Windmuller-Luna, Kristen. \"Textile stories from North Africa.\" <em>HALI </em>224 (Summer 2025): 54-61.",
            "page_number": "Reproduced: p. 57, fig. 6"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1953.320",
    "creditline": "Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 06:45:18.968000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 130598,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "T - Islamic",
    "med": "Silk, metal, dye",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1953.320/1953.320_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "73acf3abf8e71c03"
}