RARE Antique Egyptian ASSUIT black & silver net DRESS

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RARE Antique Egyptian ASSUIT black & silver net DRESS

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Sold Date: 11/13/2006
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

This dress is truly spectacular. It is made of original antique Assuit metal net, with long sleeves and plunging V neckline. The dress is open to the hip on both sides and was intended as a stunning dancing dress for Mid East dance.

Unlike the modern reproduction, antique Assuit is fluid, weighty, transparent, and really like no other fabric on Earth! It hugs your curves and forgives your bulges. It is mysteriously both t and not t Reproduction vs. original: flannel nightie vs. silk peignoir!

Each tiny paillette is a thin strip of metal, possibly silver, hand folded and flattened into the net, creating beautiful geometric shapes.

This dress is very evenly silvered throughout, just covered with designs, making it particularly suitable for performance. It weighs 1 pound and 6 ounces, nearly a pound and a half! The (Coptic) design features camels and houses and women and wheat. You can see in the photo that the large diamond pattern looks somewhat off kilter: this is part of the charm of these original pieces, that the patterns are clearly one of a kind and hand applied.

The net is strong, with no holes, and I did not find any mended areas either. The metal is bright and untarnished, and the dress is clean.

Assuit net is quite stretchy; measured flat and relaxed the dress is 55" long and 48" around, with sleeves 17" long and 20" around. Length can be adjusted by belting at the hip, which is how this dancing dress is intended to be worn. Look at the transparency in the second photo! The sash and coin bra and necklace pictured are not part of the auction.

I am starting the bidding low, with no reserve, and I wish all of you could win this lovely, elegant dress.