Polish kontusz sash (rear view)

A silk kontusz sash, decorated with floral motifs along its border, and on the ends (rear view).

Kontusz sashes (“kontusz” = outer coat-like garment) were mainly worn by the representatives of the Polish nobility in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were usually made of silk, the more expensive ones had gold and silver threads woven into them. The sashes had richly coloured patterns, often with Oriental motifs. Kontusz sashes produced in Polish sash factories were specially woven in a manner which allowed them to be worn in up to four colour variants. One of the best-known sash factories was founded in the 18th century in Slutsk by the Princes Radziwiłł.