Have you ever heard about ARKHALIG? Our next object from the museum's Textile, Clothing, Embroidery collection.

 

An arkhalig was the most common type of women’s outerwear throughout Azerbaijan. It was made from velvet, termeh and various gilded fabrics. An arkhalig was beautifully decorated with different types of golden lace and webbing. Its name (arkha, kurek — back) suggests that arkhalig exposed the chest of women and at the same time completely covered their backs. The open space of the garment was cut down in the form of a deep square and buttoned under the bust line. Because there was no underwear in women’s clothing at the time, lamb bones, or metal or wooden ribs, which lifted breasts vertically on both sides, were attached to the fiber of the arkhalig.

 

Arkhalig (women's outerwear). Azerbaijan. Early 20th century. Velvet, cotton. Chain stitch embroidery. Inv. No. 6810