Transylvanian Coat

Transylvanian Coat Copyright British Museum, acc. no. 2010,8038.1.

The British Museum in London houses a man's coat from among the former German population in Transylvania, now in Romania. The coat dates to the period 1880-1920. It measures 125 x 59 cm. The coat is made of sheepskin, and decorated with cut leather appliqué and embroidery.

Curatorial information relates this coat to the Saxon Germans that settled in Siebenbürgen (Transylvania) from the Middle Ages. This type of coat, called a Kirchenpelz ('church fleece') was worn specifially when going to church.

See also a comparable coat, dated 1873, now in the Siebenbürgisches Museum, Gundelsheim, Germany.

Sources:

  • CORACA, I. (2016). Vested in Identity: Ethnic dress and collective identity in Transylvania. Thesis (MA), University College London.
  • WILD, Beate (2008). 'Fur within, Flowers without: a Transylvanian fur coat worn to church', in: E. Tietmeyer and I. Ziehe (eds), Europa Entdecken ! Discover Europe !, Exhibition catalogue, Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin 2008, pp. 26-34.

British Museum online catalogue (retrieved 12 January 2017).

WV

Last modified on Thursday, 12 January 2017 18:28
Published in Daily and general garments and textiles
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