Female and Male

CYLHA.10.059 (5)

This photograph, taken at Yiangos Potamitis’ residence, captures a festive and celebratory gathering. The individuals in the photograph include, from left to right: an unidentified young man, Mr. Yiangos Potamitis, Mrs. Maria Angelinidou Potamiti, Yiangos Potamitis’ mother, Mrs. Maritsa Tsangara (née Rousou), Mrs. Despina Markari Onisiforou, and Mrs. Genovefa Orati Angelinidou, (Mrs. Maria Angelinidou Potamiti’s sister-in-law (Pavlos Angelinidis’ wife)). Mrs. Genovefa Orati Angelinidou, a teacher of technical subjects at the Laniteio Gymnasium (formerly the Greek Gymnasium of Limassol), was known for her creative skills in constructing floats and decorative projects. At the center of the photograph, Evangelitsa Onisiforou and Faidon Potamitis are featured on an elaborately decorated gondola, constructed by Mrs. Genovefa Orati Angelinidou. Evangelitsa appears dressed as a Venetian princess, wearing a floral crown and elegant attire, while Faidon is dressed as a gondolier, complete with a striped shirt, a sash, and a gondolier’s hat. Sitting at the base of the gondola are Marios Onisiforou and Frosou, Mrs. Maria Potamiti’s assistant. Marios wears a festive outfit, while Frosou is dressed in a patterned dress, reflecting the celebratory atmosphere.

CYLHA.10.059 (4)

This photograph, taken in the post-war period of the 1940s, shows Evangelitsa Onisiforou and Faidon Potamitis standing at the entrance of Yiangos Potamitis' house, located at the corner of Glasdonos and Georgiou the 6th streets (currently Anexartisias) near the Pentadromos’ traffic lights. Evangelitsa is dressed in a traditional costume, featuring a long striped dress with a fitted bodice and wide sleeves. She wears a headscarf adorned with decorative elements, possibly lace or a beaded design. Faidon Potamitis is dressed as a bullfighter, wearing a short, decorative jacket with epaulettes, a white shirt, and knee-length breeches. He accessorizes his outfit with a cape draped over one shoulder and knee-high socks, completing the distinctive matador look. His costume evokes the dramatic flair of a bullfighter, adding an element of festivity and performance.

CYLHA.10.059 (3)

This photograph, taken in the post-war period of the 1940s, shows a lively group dressed in festive costumes. The individuals depicted include Varvara Siasiari-Christou, originally from Tsada, Paphos (Mrs. Maria Potamiti’s assistant); Faidon Potamitis, dressed as a jester with a whimsical hat and holding an ukulele; and siblings Evangelitsa and Marios Onisiforou, who lived in the neighboring house of the Potamitis family. Evangelitsa is dressed in a traditional or festive costume, while Marios is dressed as a bullfighter, complete with a decorative jacket, cape, and a cheerful expression. The siblings’ mother, Despina, née Markari, was the sister of the mathematician Mr. Pericles Markaris, father of Argy Markaris, former director of the Limassol Water Board, and grandfather of Pericles Markaris, current president of KOEA, and Mr. Dimitris Markaris, the secretary of the Laniteio Gymnasium and father of orthopedic surgeon Mr. Markos Markaris. Their father was Mr. Nikos Onisiforou.

Ind. No. 113: Chaimali, a rectangular amulet case of copper alloy, accompanied by a chain for hanging on the chest. The case closes with a sliding lid at the top. On one side, it is decorated with floral designs, of which some protrude in high relief, while others are engraved in the background. The composition is placed in a frame of small dots in relief. Again inside a frame, the other side depicts stellar patterns and a rosette surrounded by circles in the middle. This amulet case, with its non-figurative decoration, is likely to have belonged to a Muslim.

19th century.

Dimensions: 7 x 9 x 1.5 cm.

Ind. No. 121: Chaimali, a rectangular amulet case of low-grade, cast silver, hanging from a broken chain. The case features a sliding lid on the narrow upper side. It is decorated with relief depictions of Saint George spearing the dragon on one side and the Virgin Mary with Christ Child on the other side. The depictions are surrounded by floral motifs and a decorative frame. The details of the iconography are engraved. The chaimalia were worn as amulets around the neck and were also used as cases for special items with protective properties, such as flowers from the epitaph, cotton with oil from pilgrimages, etc. Spells written on paper, known as diakavastika, were also hidden in such cases. This folk practice was also common in the Balkans and the East (for similar examples and references, see Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 202-203 and 233 note 80).

Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.4 x 0.7 cm.        

Ind. no. 301: Long and narrow shawl or belt made of thin, transparent silk fabric, embroidered with metallic and silk threads in a satin stitch. All around the edges there are branches with alternating off-white and light blue, stylised leaves with gold flowers. The slender hair-like stamens of the flowers have white and light-blue ends. The dominant motif at the two narrow sides is the tuğra (sultan's monogram) accompanied by a star, while there is also a star and crescent symbol in each corner, all gold-embroidered. A metal thread finish extends all around. This is an Ottoman work of extremely delicate craftsmanship.

It was bought by the descendants of the Sivitanides family in Limassol.

Dimensions: Width: 60 cm. Length: 234 cm.

Loukis Pierides bought belts with tsevres embroidery from Mrs. Lewis.

ΜΓ 802

Waistcoat of striped loom-woven silk fabric, dark red with fine yellow stripes, and beige cotton lining (cabot fabric). It is preserved in very good condition.

The front side consists of four pieces: two equal-sized triangles (gores) on both sides of the opening (bottom side: 18 cm, inner long side: 46 cm, outer long side: 48 cm), crossing diagonally to create a V-shaped opening on the breast; and an additional two pieces that complete the facades and extend to a single piece on the back (height: 55 cm on the front and the back [overall:110 cm], width: 43 cm at the bottom end of the back). The seams of the garment are handmade. On the sides there is a 7 cm slit. Decorative rows of herringbone stitch with olive-green thread frame the upright collar (height: 3 cm), and also run along the two outer sides of the front pieces, up to 10-12 cm from the hem. An interrupted row of the same type of stitch also adorns the middle of the collar lengthwise. The collar is garnered with braid, which continues along the front opening, double and with an added row of kombouthkia [small knots of looped cord], at a height of 29 cm on the left side and 38 cm on the right side.

On the right side of the breast there is a rectangular inside pocket (height: 13 cm, width: 10 cm) with a pointed lower end. The pocket is sewn internally with green thread. Its horizontal opening, 8.5 cm long, is framed by black braid and a continuous row of herringbone stitch.

The waistcoat is double-breasted but in its current state it closes only on one side. Four fastening cords survive, one on each of the two opening edges, another one internally at the base of the pocket and a fourth one externally on the left side, at the middle of the rectangular piece of fabric, 16 cm above the hem. The waistcoat fastens only when crossing over from right to left, by tying together two of the cords internally and the remaining two cords externally (the cord on the left edge is tied to the inside cord and the cord on the right edge is tied to the outer cord on the left side).

The long sleeves are sewn vertically to the body and consist of two segments joined widthwise. The upper segment, which is sewn onto the body of the waistcoat, is an elongated rectangular piece, 10 cm wide and 17 cm high both at the front and the back side (overall height: 34 cm). This oblong piece is joined at the bottom to two triangles that form the armpit, sewn together lengthwise (length: 16.5-17 cm). The lower part of the sleeves features a 14 cm long curvilinear opening, and has a lining of imported silk fabric featuring two red bands with leaved flowers woven into the construction of the weave, and more narrow bands with rows of stitches and purple geometric patterns (height of lining: 10.5 cm). The opening of the sleeves is garnered with double braid. A row of kombouthkia has been added along the horizontal edge.

Height: 55 cm.

Width: 43 cm on the shoulders and at the waist (37 cm when folded).

Length of sleeves: 57 cm.

Width of sleeves: 16.5 cm in the upper part, 15.5 cm at the bottom.

Date of entry to the Collection: 15.7.1994

Provenance: Nicosia – Purchased from Maria Kizouridou.

The wedding of Philippos Lysiotes and Maria Demosthenous Hatzipavlou (1900s). In the left corner stands Kosmas Lysiotes. The voluminous and elaborate hats of the women are impressive, as is the bridal gown adorned with lace and flowers. This type of bridal attire generally follows the fashion of formal dresses of the time and is characterised by abundant, impressive decoration. It is long with a train and frills at the bottom, narrow at the waist, and with a high neckline. It is enriched with additional embellishments of lace, bows, and flowers, which adorn the bodice and the head, and is completed with a long tulle veil and long gloves, all gleaming white.

Φ.Σ.Φ1.Φ8

The wedding of Natalia Dimitriou to the German Rudy Drasteo (early 20th century). Among the guests is Eugenia Valsamaki-Valdaseridi and her three daughters, Elli, Kleio, and Polina, all in their childhood. Women's accessories of the time include long gloves, feathered scarves (boa), and impressive hats. The bridal gown stands out with its long train, covered by an equally long veil.

Π.Β.Κ6.159

Riding scene (1880s). The mounted woman wears a long, buttoned blouse, a wide skirt, and a cylindrical hat. The man accompanying her wears a light-coloured suit with trousers that end just below the knee. He has a handkerchief tied to his hat. Another male figure is wearing traditional black breeches (vraka) and a double-breasted waistcoat over a white shirt.

Π.Β.Κ10.49