Kontusz belt

Silk kontusz belt Double-sided silk kontusz belt in pastel colours – celadon, yellow, burgundy, celadon-beige. The so-called wciąż of the belt, i.e. its longest part decorated with transverse stripes know as pólka. The pólka are decorated alternately with a Persian thread and flower ornament in celadon on a beige-celadon background, and with a smooth stripe in yellow and burgundy. All pólka are separated from each other by narrow stripes of beige and burgundy. Trim decorated with flowers and small leaves. The ends, or ‘heads’ of the belt are decorated with a depiction of dried flower – inspired by the ornament of the Armenian tetraevangelium of 1707 (the original is kept in Berlin). The other side of the belt (known as ‘contre partie’) in reversed colours with the same ornament. Densely woven belt, silk. Poland, south-eastern part of the Eastern Borderlands. Dated to the late 18th century.