Al-Tally: A History of Assiut in Pictures
I’m excited to share my latest article about Assiut Al-Tally in Fanoos Magazine. This is one of my current favorite belly dance publications. Each quarter, subscribers receive a free “blog-o-zine” style publication directly to their inbox.
The theme for the summer edition is “Folkloric & Traditional Dance.” My focus on costume history paired beautifully with this issue’s theme. Egyptian folkloric dancers frequently wear the iconic assiut robe when performing. And thus, an article idea was born.
I strategically selected 10 intriguing images that illustrate the history of assiut. My goal was to find a selection of images that hadn’t appeared in the book, or even on this website.
If you love assiut, visit Fanoos Magazine and check out my article in this issue of the magazine.
What is in a name?
Al-Tally vs Assiut
Fabrics and their fabrication are frequently named after their location of origin. Some well-known examples include gauze, named after Gaza, and damask weaves after Damascus.
Assiut shawls entered English in the mid-19th century. These shawls were named after the key city where you could buy these beautiful hand-made textiles.
I use the spelling Assiut in my work. This is how the city appears on official US maps. In other countries, the city name is transliterated into different spellings with different pronunciations. Depending on the author’s language and nationality, the spelling of the same city will vary wildly.
Today, I’m consciously integrating the Egyptian term for the technique, Al Tally. With luck and good fortune, we can make a lasting impact on changing the language we use to discuss how Assiut/Al Tally is discussed.
To learn more about the history of this single-stitch metal embroidery technique check out my book. “The Cloth of Egypt” traces its origins in Europe, through its migration throughout the Turkish empire to the beloved embroidery technique of Upper Egypt.
- Read the Article: “Al Tally: A History of Assiut in Pictures,” Fanoos, Summer 2024. Read Here
- Check out the Book: “The Cloth of Egypt” on Amazon
- On the Blog: “Shopping for Assiut on a Budget.” Read Here
- Join the Conversation on Facebook: Assiut Group
Stay cool out there!
~ Dawn Devine ~ Davina
July, 2024
