Vest (yelekkin)

Double-breasted vest (yelekkin). The front consists of two pieces of old silk fabric with a golden interwoven decoration of floral motifs, including leaves and flowers. The colours are violet, blue, fuchsia, orange, yellow and light blue, and are reminiscent of a rainbow. There are ten pairs of buttons with corresponding buttonholes on each side. The top buttonhole is incorporated into the decorative finish of the chest. In between and extending from the buttonholes there are decorative patterns made of cord. The buttons are of black silk with tassels. They are attached to 2.5 cm. loops, at the base of which is a chain-like pattern of cord. The buttons are reinforced internally with blue cord in a diagonal arrangement, like the buttons at the bottom of the front. The cord forms two decorative spirals, measuring 3cm and 2cm respectively. On the right side of the chest there is a vase-shaped pocket with a pointed end. The pocket is divided into two parts; the upper part is made of blue felt and the lower of light blue felt. It is adorned with black soutache and tricolour cord in black, burgundy and orange-yellow, which extends into a S-shaped design. At the bottom edge, the cords end in a tassel. The back consists of a single piece of dark blue velvet with gussets (additional triangles) under each armpit. In the centre of the back there is a vertical opening with nine pairs of metallic (bronze) eyelets, and one at the very top, through which passes a light green ribbon. The opening and the bottom edge are decorated with sewn-own cord, one in light green, and the other tricolour (burgundy, orange and black), forming a series of interconnected curved triangles ending in loops. At the top of the vertical opening, the same cords form a large central spiral that extends into curvilinear and spiral designs. The sleeves and neck are also finished with green and tricolour cord. Internally, there is black soutache and tricolour cord at the vertical opening and at the edge of the back. The buttonholes are reinforced with green woollen material both inside and outside. At the opening of the neck and the chest, there is a reinforcing striped band in black, off-white, blue and purple. The vest is lined with beige cotton fabric. On the right side of the lining, there is a circular ink stamp with the words ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ ΚΥΠΡΟΣ (LEFKOSIA CYPRUS) in the centre, and ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΦΙΛΗΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΩΓΟΣ (GEORGIOS FILIS MANUFACTURER) around the perimeter.    Dimensions: height 44 cm., width 41 cm.   Donation: Chr. Koutlidou