Army tunic, about 1890
Unknown Mahdistexpand_more
Cotton, woolexpand_more
The Mary Ruth Weisel Endowment for Africa, Oceania, and the Americasexpand_more 2011.48
Not on Viewexpand_more
It looks as though it were designed for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris in the 1910s, the colorful patches of felted wool giving this tunic a “modernist” look. Yet it’s part of a soldier’s uniform from Sudan, where Muslim leaders successfully fought against the colonial government at the end of the 19th century. The religious Mahdi army wore patches on their uniforms as a reference to the ragged clothes of mystic dervishes, a show of contempt for worldly goods.
Details
- Title
- Army tunic
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2011.48
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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