Woman carrying an offering

Published/Created:

ca. 1981-1975 BCE

Physical Description:

H. 112 cm

Date Depicted:

1975
8000 BC - 499 AD

Materials:

wood, gesso, paint

Notes:

A court servant in a multicolored and bordered kalasaris. The patterned borders relate to the design and color of the jewelry.

Abstract:

The highly sophisticated effect of Egyptian dress is achieved very simply. The kalasaris, the basic garment for over 2000 years, is formfitting and tubular. It hugs the body from bust to ankles and is held up by one or two shoulder straps or a wide collar. Fabric is opaque and apparently flexible. Usually it is white, yellow, or green; in some cases it is multicolored in zigzag patterns. The quality of the fabric distinguishes the social classes. In time a second kalasaris is over the first. Normally made of sheer fabric, it is cut full and is open at the center front. A left sleeve is often added in late dynasties. Sometimes a sheer mantle is over the kalasaris. Covering only the shoulders, it is oval and has a hole for the head. Frequently it is gathered at the center front, which makes it appear like pleated sleeves.

Topics:

Costume -- Egypt -- History -- (LC)
Dress accessories -- Egypt -- History -- (LC)
Sculpture -- Egypt -- 12th dynasty -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

12th Dynasty
Middle Kingdom

Culture:

Egyptian

Accession Number:

4388-009

Genre:

costume (mode of fashion): dresses (AAT)
sculpture (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Clothing & Accessories
Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Related Exhibit or Resource:

Egypt: Dynasty I-Dynasty XX, 3100-1200 BCE: Dress: Women

Source Creator:

Button, Jeanne and Sbarge, Stephen

Source Title:

History of Costume, In Slides, Notes and Commentaries: Volume 1

Source Created:

New York, NY
Theatre Arts Slide Presentations
1975

Call Number:

GT513 +B87 1 (LC)

Orbis Barcode:

39002051938497

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Original Repository:

New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art

OID:

10542705

PID:

digcoll:1804880