Vest (yelekkin)

Men’s double-breasted vest (yelekkin) made of black velvet. The front part consists of two pieces that cross over the chest on both sides, with rows of black buttons arranged diagonally. There are eight buttons on one side, while only six are preserved on the other side. It features rich sewn-on decoration made of grey cord, forming spiral and lattice patterns in different combinations, including: a dense composition of spirals creating a wide band around the neck opening, various spiral patterns at the openings that correspond to the buttons, lattice pattern at the base of the buttons, and a simpler design in the form of a series of lozenges around the bottom edge of the vest. Internally, the opening of the neck/chest is reinforced with braid. On the right side of the chest, there is a vase-shaped pocket outlined by sewn-on double cord, with the year 1918 embroidered in off-white, along with the initials ΚΠ (KP) in orange. The waistcoat has an inner pocket opening on the left side, which is reinforced all around with sewn-on black cord. The back consists of a single piece of fabric without an opening but with sewn-on decoration at the top and bottom. At the bottom, there is a curved triangular motif inspired by Oriental art, covered with a composition of spirals, while the top of the back features a small lozenge with mat design filling and spiral-shaped endings above and below. Internally, the opening of the neck/chest is reinforced with braid. On the lining, the name Κυριάκος Γ.Χ. Σταυρή (Kyriakos G.X. Stavri) and ΕΠΟΛ (EPOL) are written with ink, while the name Τρίκωμο (Trikomo), a village in the Famagusta District, is embroidered in red thread. Similar vests are included in the Collection of the Folklore Historical Museum of Corinth. Two identical “sklavounika” velvet waistcoats, dating from 1910, are part of family heirlooms from Peristeronopigi, a village in Mesaoria (Michalopoulou-Charalambous, 1993, 202, 203).   Dimensions: height 39 cm., width 43 cm. Donation: K. Ioannidis.