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Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.
Man's hooded cape (akhnif)
Moroccan (Berber)
1970s
Medium/Technique
wool plain weave with supplementary weft patterning
Dimensions
Center back (including hood and fringe): 139.7 cm (55 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Emanuel Balkin
Accession Number2018.3753
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsContemporary Art, Africa and Oceania, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionMan's hooded cape woven to shape from goat's wool with supplementary brocading; main ground woven in weft-faced plainweave in dark brown wool; rectangular hood sewn together with red wool to form crown, from which issues a long brown tassel wound around with red wool; supplementary weft insertions in shades of orange, white, and green, form geometric border motifs at perimeter of front opening, around hood, and down center back; roughly semi-circular cape, with large red/orange protective "eye" motif formed from additional weft insertions near hem; additional green, white, and orange brocading around eye and at eye's center forming stylized "lizard" motif; blanket-like bottom hem with red stripe; applied brown knotted fringe around curved edge.
ProvenanceBetween about 1962 and 1989, acquired by Emanuel Balkin and Lorraine Balkin (b. 1930 - d. 2017) for Décor International, Boston; 2018, gift of Emanuel Balkin to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 12, 2018)
NOTE: Emanuel and Lorraine Balkin founded and operated the gallery Décor International from 1962 until 1989.
NOTE: Emanuel and Lorraine Balkin founded and operated the gallery Décor International from 1962 until 1989.