Caftan

The caftan was purchased in Turkey on commission to August II (the Stong) by his Turkish valet in 1730. According to the inventory, the caftan was supposedly a robe of state. In view of the plainness of this garment, however, this remark can probably be consigned to the realm of legend. What is true, however, is that this caftan, with its double sleeves, the longer of which hang down beside the wearer's body, does correspond to the characteristic outer garment worn over the caftan by the Sultan and other high-ranking dignitaries. Generally, these outer garmets only have the long pair of sleeves and slits in the side, through which the sleeves of the caftan could be pushed. Sixteenth-century Ottoman miniatures frequently depic this type of clothing. There were also, however, outer garments with double sleeves in which the front pair was of half-length and of a wide cut, so that the sleeves of the undergarment were again visible. Compared with these, the caftan held in the Dresden Armoury is peculiar in that it is not an outer garment, and the front sleeves, which are also long, are close-fitting. Furthermore, the caftan is made of relatively plain fabric, which would not have befitted the status of high-ranking dignitary.