Tunic

Made of hemp fabric; ankle-length; bodice and skirt joined at the waist. A narrow collar around the neck, decorated with embroidery, below which are folds created by two parallel drawstrings. A 17-centimeter long opening over the breast (bosom) trimmed with a zigzag line of red cotton thread and green wool and surrounded by green and red cruciform patterns. There is is a triangular gusset under each armpit. The sleeves, which start from the neckline, are long, broad and disposed in folds at the elbow. Running along the edges of the sleeves is narrow lace surmounted by geometric patterns embroidered in the fabric: triangles, rhombuses and slanting lines of white, red and orange cotton thread, and dark blue, green and purple wool with some silver thread. Each shoulder is decorated with a large geometrized branch with leaves and the skirts with large and small floral, cubelike, triangular and hooklike motifs. The join of the skirts is decorated with lace, čikma, and the bottom of the tunic with a serrated stitch, proplet, of hemp thread. An integral part of the traditional dress. Made in 1860. Such tunics were worn in the regions of Šumadija, Belgrade Posavina and Belgrade Podunavlje in the 1880s. Home handwork; woven, sewn, embroidered. Length: 140 cm; hemline circumference: 228 cm