Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Woman's Cape

late 19th–early 20th century
Not on view
The design of this cape is closely linked to the influence of "Orientalism" on the design of and demand for Syrian textiles. The term "orientalism" reflects Western travelers’ intense fascination with the Middle East during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Syrian textile producers created new products to satisfy the tastes of this new group of consumers. Although its shape resembles that of Moroccan and Algerian capes, the garment’s style and the use of a characteristically Syrian striped fabric alternating with bands of Arabic calligraphy suggest that it was made to appeal to foreigners visiting Syria. The calligraphy features the repeated phrase "There is no god but Allah."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Woman's Cape
  • Date: late 19th–early 20th century
  • Geography: Made in Syria, probably Aleppo or Damascus
  • Medium: Silk, cotton, wool, metal wrapped thread, metal, and paper; satin weave; plain weave; braided; felt
  • Dimensions: Length at CB: 56 in. (142.2 cm)
  • Classification: Outerwear-Womenswear
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gifts in memory of Paul M. Ettesvold, and Judith and Gerson Leiber Fund, 1994
  • Object Number: 1994.302.2
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Women's Mashla Summer Cloak, Silk and metal wrapped thread; tapestry weave
Women's Mashla Summer Cloak
late 19th–early 20th century
Abaya Cloak, Silk, cotton, and metal wrapped thread; slit-tapestry weave; plain weave; moiré; satin weave; embroidered
Abaya Cloak
late 19th–early 20th century
Abaya Cloak, Silk, cotton, and metal wrapped thread; slit-tapestry weave; plain weave
Abaya Cloak
late 19th–early 20th century
Quilted Coat with Long Sleeves, Silk and cotton; satin weave; plain weave; quilted
Quilted Coat with Long Sleeves
late 19th–mid-20th century
Abaya Cloak, Silk, metal wrapped thread
Abaya Cloak
late 19th–early 20th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.