Small, flat, rectangular, multi-coloured pouch made by folding a long, narrow, embroidered panel in half crosswise and stitching up the long sides, leaving one narrow end open. The embroidery is so densely worked that almost none of the background textile is visible. The two sides of the pouch are similar in design and colour, but one side is more heavily embellished than the other. Each side has a rectangular centre design panel embroidered with diamond shaped geometric forms and mirror work; the central panel is surrounded by yellow, green and white motifs worked in detached interlacing stitch. The designs are bordered with rows of yellow square chain stitch and a black “braid” made from dense bundles of black thread that are laid and couched. A tassel made from thread is sewn at each corner. One red glass bead is sewn on one side, at the lower right of the design field. The pouch is lined with off-white cotton muslin.

Small, flat, rectangular, multi-coloured pouch made by folding a long, narrow embroidered panel in half crosswise and stitching up the long sides, leaving one narrow end open. The embroidery is so densely worked that almost none of the background textile is visible. The two sides of the pouch are almost identical in design and colour. Each side of the pouch has a rectangular centre design panel embroidered with diamond shaped motifs and mirrors, worked with multi-coloured thread, outlined with black, on red cotton muslin; the central panel is bordered with a row of mirrors that are outlined with metallic thread and set between rows of black “braid” made from dense bundles of black thread that are laid and couched. Closely-spaced, faded red pompoms are sewn into the side seams. At the open end of the pouch is a casing made from grey-green cotton fabric. The pouch is lined with dark green cotton fabric.

Woman or girl’s multicoloured, short-sleeved, blouse front. Dense, bold geometric motifs, embroidered in silk and cotton thread, cover almost the entire surface of the garment, and in most areas completely hide the ground textile, which is made of dark red cotton. The shoulder area is defined by large floral designs; below the armholes the motifs form an apron effect, with a wide border at the hemline and along the side edges. Mirrorwork, white rickrack and red beaded pompoms are incorporated into the design overall. The centre front neckline slit is decorated with white buttons, triangular turquoise tabs and tie-cords. Tie-cords are also located at the back of the neck and down the centre back opening, which extends from neck to hem. At the back of the shoulders, plain panels of dark red cotton textile are attached. Sleeves are extensions of the shoulder pieces. Sleeve edges and the hem are trimmed with beads, tassels, plastic disks and shells. A label made of off-white cotton textile, printed with a rubber stamp, is attached at the neck edge at the back with a loose running stitch.

Child’s embroidered dress with off-centre front neckline opening. A densely embroidered panel, trimmed with mirrors, surrounds the neck opening in the front and extends over the shoulders to form a back yoke. There is a large pocket inside the front of the dress that is accessible through the neckline slit; the purple machine printed cotton textile that forms the pocket is visible at the neckline. The flared skirt is embroidered with scattered multicoloured geometric figures on both the front and the back. The orange silk textile of the skirt is heavily damaged, exposing the red cotton underlining. Triangular, embroidered gussets are inserted at the sides, under the sleeves. The round neck opening closes with a loop fastener on the right hand side. Sleeve bands of embroidered textile (orange; purple; rose) are trimmed with sequins, rickrack and braid. The hem is finished with silver metallic braid (3 cm wide). The entire garment is underlined with cotton textile. A label made of off-white cotton textile, printed with a rubber stamp and handwritten with ball-point ink is attached at the neck edge on the back with a loose running stitch.

Orange women’s tunic with embroidery and appliqué. The tunic has a high, square neckline. The front has a large embroidered panel from the shoulder to hip. The embroidery on this panel is so elaborately detailed and so densely worked that none of the background textile is visible, and this part of the tunic is very stiff. Within this panel are small- and medium-sized circular, diamond and double diamond shaped motifs arranged in rectangular groupings, and numerous very small mirrors. Below the panel are three horizontal panels of silk and cotton textile (yellow; light green; orange) embroidered with triangular, diamond and floral border designs worked in black thread, accented with several colours and metallic thread. The back of the tunic has a centre back opening with braided ties. Pouches made of orange silk textile and containing small amounts of dried plant material are sewn into the top edge on both sides of the neck opening. On the back there is a large panel of orange nylon(?), embroidered with multicoloured circular medallions and edged with diamond shaped border motifs, silver coloured sequins and white rickrack. Strips of light green and orange silk textile, edged with black braid and white rickrack, form side panels that connect the front and the back of the garment. The front of the tunic is slightly longer than the back. The sleeves are elbow-length and close fitting, made of bands of silk and cotton textile (orange; red; dark green; yellow) embroidered with cross stitch and decorated with sequins, braid and rickrack. All panels, strips and bands are underlined with cotton textile. A label made of off-white cotton textile, printed with a rubber stamp and handwritten with ball-point ink, is attached at the neck edge on the front with a loose running stitch.

Small red dress with embroidery. The dress has a v-neck with a loop closure, short sleeves and full skirt with side slits. A piece of dark blue cotton with a floral pattern is beneath the v-neck opening. Around the neck is a thick geometric border in with mirrors and metal sequins. The sleeves have bands of various widths with braid, rickrack and metal sequins. There are triangular gussets under the sleeves. The skirt has embroidered circles in orange, green and brown and edged with white on red ground. A purple silk overlay covers the red skirt. The bottom hem has yellow cotton crocheted trim worked in a scallop stitch. The inside is unlined. There is a white label inside the neck that says ‘Made in Afghanistan’.

Woman’s or child’s backless blouse made from a large embroidered panel which forms the entire front of the blouse. There is a vertical neck opening at the centre front, bound with pale grey-green cotton textile; the blouse fastens at the centre back neckline with ties made of cotton textile (one made of printed textile and one plain). Square front shoulder yokes are decorated with mirror and pompoms; diamond-shaped geometric forms are worked in purple, off-white and red silk thread. The same designs also appear below the yoke, forming a cross shape, bordered with a black braid made from thick bundles of thread which have been couched onto the surface. The bottom portion of the blouse is embellished with scattered, multi-coloured, embroidered geometric forms and mirrorwork. The hem and sides are bordered with plain green and plain red cotton textile. The sleeves are bordered with red and gold rayon or silk brocade and plain green cotton textile. On the back, separate, small shoulder yokes made from panels of red cotton broadcloth are sewn at the shoulders and at the underarms, forming close-fitting, abbreviated sleeves. The embroidery is underlined with grey cotton gauze.

A saddlebag constructed from a long continuous length of off-white striped wool canvas, which is folded and seamed onto itself at each end to form a pair of bags of equal size (panniers). The fronts of both bags, as well as the “bridge” that separates the two bags, are decorated with large rectangular panels of very finely knotted pile weaving that is worked on the canvas. The piece is tightly woven and quite stiff. The design motifs on the pile woven sections is consisting of octagonal and other geometric forms with shades of red, and brown predominating. The outside edges of the saddle bag are bound with braided brown goat or camel hair and the opening of each bag is finished with dense loops of braided goat or camel hair. There are colourful tassels at the corners and on the back of one bag, a length of brown cotton twill tape is attached.

A multicoloured woman’s tunic that is embellished with panels and bands of embroidery on both the front and the back, incorporating several styles of embroidery. On the front, there is a large embroidered panel from shoulder to hip, and the upper edge of this panel extends over the shoulders to form a narrow yoke on the back. The embroidery on this panel is so elaborately detailed and so densely worked that none of the background textile is visible, and this part of the tunic is very stiff. Design elements in this embroidered panel include circular motifs enclosed within squares, a border of stylized floral ornaments and many small mirrors. Below the densely embroidered panel on the front are three solid coloured horizontal bands of silk and cotton textile (orange and yellow; purple and green; bright pink and red), embellished with black embroidered edging and rickrack. The back of the tunic has a centre-back neckline slit (30 cm) with twisted fibre ties. Pouches made of yellow and black striped cotton textile and containing small amounts of dried plant material are sewn into the top of the neck edge on both sides of the neckline slit. Below the back shoulder yoke, a large panel of light purple cotton textile, embroidered with scattered, multicoloured medallions and bordered with a repeated triangular motif, extends to the hemline; a narrow horizontal band of machine printed red cotton textile separates the shoulder yoke from this panel. Narrow vertical strips of plain silk and cotton textile form side panels that connect the front to the back. The front of the tunic is slightly shorter than the back. Elbow-length, close-fitting sleeves are made of solid coloured bands of silk and cotton textile, embroidered with metal-wrapped thread and coloured sequins. All panels and bands are underlined with cotton textile (orange; purple; pink). A label made of off-white cotton textile, printed with a rubber stamp and handwritten with ball-point ink, is attached at the neck edge on the front with a loose running stitch.

A multicoloured woman’s tunic that is embellished with panels and bands of embroidery on both the front and the back, incorporating several styles of embroidery. On the front, there is a large embroidered panel from shoulder to hip, and the upper edge of this panel extends over the shoulders to form a narrow yoke on the back. The embroidery on this panel is so elaborately detailed and so densely worked that very little of the background textile (red-orange tie-dyed silk) is visible, and this part of the tunic is very stiff. Design elements in this embroidered panel include many small circular motifs arranged in vertical and horizontal stripes. Three very large circular motifs are at the bottom of the panel. Many small glass mirrors are part of the design. The neckline is squared and close fitting. Below the densely embroidered panel on the front are three solid coloured horizontal bands of silk and cotton textile (orange; light green; purple), embroidered with densely-stitched decorative medallions and bordered with diamond, square and circular motifs. The back of the tunic has a centre-back neckline slit (26.5 cm) with braided fibre ties. Pouches made of purple silk textile and containing small amounts of dried plant material are sewn into the top of the neck edge on both sides of the neckline slit. Below the back shoulder yoke is a large panel of yellow cotton textile, embroidered with multicoloured circular medallions that are enclosed within black triangular compartments, each bordered with small multicoloured triangles. Narrow vertical strips of silk textile (magenta; purple) edged with braid and rickrack form side panels that connect the front to the back. Elbow-length close fitting sleeves are made of solid coloured bands of cotton textile (orange; purple; rose), trimmed with embroidery, braid rickrack. All panels and bands are underlined with cotton textile. A label made of off-white cotton textile, printed with a rubber stamp and handwritten with ball-point ink, is attached at the neck edge on the front with a loose running stitch.