Vintage Bedouin Women Face Veil-Rashaida Tribe

Hand stitched using silver threads

This unique Item is approx. 60 years old or maybe older.

Size " 29" X 16"

The veil is ethnographic costume item that formed an important part of Bedouin nomad married women's attire. "First, modesty: after puberty, a female should not have her face seen by non-closely related males. Second, bridewealth and social status: the amount of silver a woman can display on her body is a source of pride to her. Third, aesthetics: women consider their veils to be a vital part of their personal style of beautification and adornment. Fourth, religion and magic: items sewn onto or woven into the face mask have amuletic hijab dimensions. For example, the color blue is worn to ward off the evil eye, carnelian is used to insure fertility, coral is believed to help secure prosperity, and amber is intended to bring good health, The band that goes across the forehead is usually hand-woven and embroidered in silk, sometimes decorated with silver coins. The veil itself is made of transparent crepe, heavily adorned with Turkish coins. It is tied around the head with braided wool cord. From the temples hang strands of colored beads and a variety of stones followed by silver chains with pendants . Maidens and married women generally did not wear a veil when they went about their daily routines in camp. They put it on when leaving the camp or when receiving unrelated males in their homes.