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Source Description
Special embroidered textiles were used by newylwed Moroccan couples to cover the mirror in their home. This was done to protect them from the evil eye and unfavorable gazes.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
97196
label
Mirror cover (tensifa)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
97196
contentType
object
title
Mirror cover (tensifa)
description
Special embroidered textiles were used by newylwed Moroccan couples to cover the mirror in their home. This was done to protect them from the evil eye and unfavorable gazes.
date
1700s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79481339
genreSpecific
Embroidery
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 333.9 x 56.6 cm (131 7/16 x 22 5/16 in.)
cul
Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan embroiderer
accession
1916.83
Source extras
tec
Linen, silk, dye
tombstone
Mirror cover (tensifa), 1700s. Africa, North Africa, Morocco, Tétouan, Moroccan embroiderer. Linen, silk, dye; overall: 333.9 x 56.6 cm (131 7/16 x 22 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade, 1916.830
collection
T - Islamic
didYouKnow
Satin stitch is used to produce the broad, smooth surface of the floral patterns seen here.
citations
citation
Stone, Caroline. <em>The Embroideries of North Africa</em>. Burnt Mill, Harlow, Essex: Longman, 1985.
page_number
p. 73
citation
Paydar, Niloo Imami, and Ivo Grammet. <em>The Fabric of Moroccan Life</em>. Indianapolis, Ind: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2002.
page_number
p. 68
citation
Denamur, Isabelle, Pierre Ferbos, and Louise Rogers Lalaurie. <em>Moroccan textile embroidery</em>. Paris: Flammarion, 2003.
page_number
p. 58-59
citation
Alaoui, Rachida. F<em>lorilège de la broderie marocaine</em>. [Milan]: Skira, 2011.
page_number
p. 48
citation
Meek, Rachel. "Outfit for the Royal Guard, Siam Mirror Cover, Morocco." <em>HALI </em>224 (Summer 2025): 28-29.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 29, fig 2
citation
Meek, Rachel. "Outfit for the royal guard, Siam; Mirror cover, Morocco." <em>The Hali Antique Carpet and Textile Art Fair</em>, vol.224 (Summer 2025), pp. 28–29
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 29
creditline
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:14:27.158000
sourceId
97196
dept
Textiles
coll
T - Islamic
med
Linen, silk, dye
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
d46b9636c1b96a1c