Caption:
Man's Coat (Choga). Dimensions: L. of textile: 52 1/2 in. (133.4 cm)
W. with outstretched arms: 63 3/8 in. (161 cm)
W. of bottom: 29 3/8 in. (74.6 cm)
L. of arm: 24 1/4 in. (61.6 cm). Date: ca. 1803-56.
A meandering vine encloses multicolor ambi, or mangoshaped, motifs on this choga, a loose-fitting, open-fronted robe worn as an outer garment in Central Asia, Russia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. This coat was likely made in Kashmir, as the double-interlocking twill tapestry weave (kanni) used to make it was a specialty of the region. Later, the coat made its way into the wardrobe of Saiyid Sa'id, sultan of Zanzibar and imam of Muscat, Oman (1803-56).