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Narrative

This blouse was owned by ms. Zemlac's mother, Mary Kusawan (1869-1954), who came to Canada in the late 1800s.

History Of Use

This is an example of the straight or old style blouse, worn by old women and by women of all ages in Muntanie, in the plains of the Danube and Dobroudja. It is characterized by the absence of shoulder seams, the front and back being cut from one length of fabric, with a round opening for the head and a straight cut forming an opening of several inches at the center front. The blouse is constructed of five rectangular pieces: the front/back, 2 sleeves, and 2 side panels. Depending on the region, this blouse would be worn with a wrap-around or pleated skirt; or with two aprons, one in the front and one in the back; or with a skirt and an apron.

Description

A woman's straight, extended, loose-fitting blouse with an attached petticoat that has a keyhole neckline with an embroidered and beaded trim, hand finishing, and ties of twisted fibre. Embellished with vertical bands of embroidery and beading from neck to waist at the centre front and from the back to the front at the shoulder seam. Long set-in sleeves have wide vertical band of embroidery and beading from the shoulder to the wrist. Embroidered and beaded bands at the wrist edge with yellow lace trim and underarm gussets. Hand embroidery in geometric stylized flowers worked in heavy wool (?) thread and glass beads. Lace trim at the wrist is made by pulling and reworking the threads. No shoulder seams. Hand sewn seams have decorative finishing. Embroidery has a main design consisting of red, yellow, orange, light blue, dark blue, green, and white beads in floral and geometric patterns outlined by black thread.