Young Brides Old Treasures: Macedonian Embroidered Dress.  In the Cotsen Gallery, Neutrogena Wing through January 6th, 2013

Until the twentieth century, Macedonian women wove, embroidered, and wore magnificent ensembles of dress that indicated to a knowing eye what village and region they came from and where they were in the cycle of life.  From puberty through betrothal, marriage, child bearing, and old age, dress changed to reflect status change.  Historic ensembles, no longer made but preserved in the museum, also illustrate the tumultuous political history of the region; pan-Slavic, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences can be seen in embroidered motifs, materials, garments, and jewelry.  The outstanding collection of the Museum has dates primarily from 1890 to 1920 with some later pieces from the 1950′s. On display will be 27 mannequins in multi-layered ensembles as well as individual garments and pieces of jewelry belonging to Museum of International Folk Art; the Collection was made completed with a recent, large donation from the Macedonian Arts Council…so that is today the largest and most comprehensive museum collection in the United States.  The exhibition will accompanied by a catalog of the same name, and closes January 6, 2013.

*Photo: Detail, Wedding dress. Miyak, Smilevo, Demir Hisar municipality, c. 1900. Wool, cotton, silk, metallic thread, metal, glass beads, plastic. The Ronald Wixman/Steven Glaser Collection. Photography by Addison Doty

*CLOSE MONDAYS

DAILY 10 – 5