Headscarf
Early 20th century
Ida ou Nadif or Ait Abdallah people Anti-Atlas Mountains region, Morocco
Morocco
The unique design on this headscarf may refer to a celestial pattern: the full and crescent moons of the lunar cycle. Dyers achieved the reddish-brown color by using henna leaves, which they made into a paste and then painted onto the woven ground. The color saturation varies, particularly within the darker shades, indicating that the dyers made multiple applications. In Morocco henna is an expensive material that is associated with the divine and with protective measures.
Wool; plain weave, tassels tops gathered with buttonhole stitches; henna dyed