We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

'Kurteh' or 'chyrpy' (woman's cape)

circa 20th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

Alternate image of 'Kurteh' or 'chyrpy' (woman's cape) by
Alternate image of 'Kurteh' or 'chyrpy' (woman's cape) by
  • Details

    Other Title
    Yellow ground woman's coat
    Places where the work was made
    Uzbekistan
    Turkmenistan
    Cultural origin
    Tekke tribespeople. Western Turkestan region
    Date
    circa 20th century
    Media category
    Textile
    Materials used
    embroidered yellow silk ground with woven tasselled edging; cotton lining of block printed handwoven cloth
    Dimensions
    117.0 cm
    Credit
    Gift of John Yu and George Soutter in memory of Dee Court 2008
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    209.2008
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    This type of coat was worn over a dress and trousers. It is shaped so it can cover the head, and was worn when a woman moved outside the house. The yellow ground signifies that the garment was worn by a middle-aged woman, and is much rarer than the black ground coats worn by younger women. The dummy sleeves at the back are typical of this type of costume. Slits for the arms seem to have been added to this piece at a later stage. (The different names for this type of garment reflect the diversity of languages used across different Central Asian communities.)

    Asian Art Department, AGNSW, 2008.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Uzbekistan

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication

    • Jill Sykes, Look, 'Hunters and Gatherers', pg. 14-15, Sydney, Mar 2009, 7 (colour illus.).