Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "95503",
    "label": "Kerchief (tensifa)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}

{
    "id": "95503",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Kerchief (tensifa)",
    "description": "This beautiful kerchief, worn wrapped around the head, was part of elegant bathing equipment that well-to-do women wore while relaxing in a hammam after bathing. The floral and foliate embroidery reflect a fashion that lasted for more than a century. This example is dominated by lavish, radiating gold and silver thread.",
    "date": "1700–1899",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1238",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79477081"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Embroidery"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1238/1916.1238_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1238/1916.1238_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1238/1916.1238_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 241.9 x 39.4 cm (95 1/4 x 15 1/2 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, North Africa, Algeria, Algerian embroiderer"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1238"
}

{
    "tec": "Linen, silk, gold, silver, dye",
    "tombstone": "Kerchief (tensifa), 1700–1899. Africa, North Africa, Algeria, Algerian embroiderer. Linen, silk, gold, silver, dye; overall: 241.9 x 39.4 cm (95 1/4 x 15 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.1238",
    "collection": "T - Islamic",
    "didYouKnow": "Tiny traces of graphite on this textile show us how the artist carefully outlined the design to be embroidered.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Victoria and Albert Museum, and A. J. B. Wace. <em>Catalogue of Algerian Embroideries</em>. London: Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1935.",
            "page_number": "plate 1, no. 16"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1238",
    "creditline": "Gift of J. H. Wade",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:07:29.110000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1238/1916.1238_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95503,
    "dept": "Textiles",
    "coll": "T - Islamic",
    "med": "Linen, silk, gold, silver, dye",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1238/1916.1238_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "bef2fee234286703"
}