Ikat Chapan or Coat, Lined

Broad stripes of plum and white outside, a riot of red and orange tucked inside.

This ikat chapan or coat, lined, comes from Uzbekistan and dates to ca. 1920. It is silk and cotton. The chapan, a long, loose robe with long sleeves, was worn throughout Central Asia, and the most colorful ikats were often saved for the facings and linings. The outer cloth is bold horizontal bands of deep aubergine and cream, their edges blurred with the hallmark ikat shimmer. Inside, the front facings blaze with red, orange and purple ikat, over a lining of plain indigo blue. It is 80 inches wide and 51 long.

Plain stripes for the street, fireworks for those who get close.