ΜΓ 302
A man’s double-breasted vest made of maroon and black velvet.
The front consists of a panel of maroon velvet on either side of the breast. Each of the two front panels is joined on the side to an oblong piece of black velvet. The back, also of black velvet, appears as a single piece, with a slit lengthwise at the centre, from the waist until high up on the back (opening height: 28.5 cm).
The vest closes on either side, with two oblique rows of eight buttons fixed to a black braided cord, sewn-on inside. The buttons have a beige fabric core and a lining of black cord. The long loops to which the buttons are fixed are joined at the base by an oblique band of fine, black double cord forming a double row of lozenges (net pattern). Rows of cords, combined with braids, also frame the oblong buttonholes. The arched tops of five buttonholes are crowned by a decorative pattern in spiral formations. The oblong opening of the buttonholes allowed the buttons to move, offering ease of movement. Such comfort was necessary, given that the vests were worn as festive garments and for dancing.
Along the neck opening extend rows of braids and black cords that follow the contour and continue until the bottom edge of the front panels of the vest. In the lower part of the neck opening, between the rows of cords, a fine band includes consecutive spirals, exposing the red velvet of the base. Further down, there develops a dense mat pattern with a curvilinear end in the lower part, which is defined by parallel rows of cords and spiral motifs. On the contour of the neckline couched decoration, numerous stitches of light-coloured thread are discernible, fixing the decoration to the fabric.
On the right side of the breast, beneath the decoration of the neck opening, there is a geometrical design, formed of yellow and light-blue twisted cords. The central pattern is rectangular, filled with blue braid, over which a triangular design is formed, empty on the inside. Lower, a lozenge with mat filling extends to the lower part with smaller spirals and a tiny lozenge between them. Further down on the same side, a vase-shaped pocket is trimmed with rows of twisted cords of brown-yellow and light-blue, as well as a brown/black braid. The ends of the brown-yellow cords are projected hook-shaped in the upper extremities, whereas in the lower part they open up to form a tassel. At the centre of the pocket, there extends a horizontal decorative design of two parallel cords, one yellow and one light-blue, that form two zig-zag lines with small loops on the corners, above and below a horizontal line. The pocket is placed above the seam of the vest on the side. The armholes and the side seams are accentuated by brown/black braid and one or two twisted cords of brown-yellow.
On the back of the vest, a ribbon of red fabric criss-crosses through fourteen holes with metallic eyelets, facing each other on either side of the vertical opening. The opening is trimmed with brown braid and a twisted brown-yellow cord, whereas on the inside of the metallic eyelets, a double cord, light blue and twisted brown-yellow, repeats the shape of the opening. Innermost zig-zag lines formed with light blue and yellow cord, with small loops on the tops, continue along the edges of the back and extend to the side. On the front, on the red velvet, a zig-zag line of black cord continues to the lower edges above rows of cords. The curve of the contour at the base of the neck opening is decorated externally with a sewn-on row of dense loops, also of black cord. Over the opening of the back, there is a symmetrical decorative design with a lozenge at the centre and oval shapes above and below. At the base of the design, on either side above the top of the opening, there are two leaf-shaped patterns. The border of the design is formed with yellow and light blue cord, whereas the inside of the patterns is covered by rows of coloured twisted threads in green, yellow and red. On the inside of the lozenge, twisted cords in red form a mat pattern, through which a double cord in light blue runs horizontally.
The inside of the vest is covered by beige cotton lining, hand-sewn. Along the perimeter of the neck opening, there extends a reinforcing band of fabric with pink and green stripes, hand-sewn with black thread. Further down, the bias-cut opening of the breast is reinforced internally on both sides with a piece of black velvet.
Height: 42 cm.
Width: 24 cm on the shoulders, 40 cm at the armpits, 34 cm at the waist.
Date of entry to the Collection 13.9.1980
Provenance: Polemi, Pafos – Purchased from Ι. Theodosiou.
