Muslin was named after the Iraqi city of Mosul, as it is understood, that this is the place where Europeans first encountered this prized cotton cloth from Asia. Enaam brought to New Zealand a collection of costumes and textiles some of which she had inherited and some of which she had acquired.

Works on display comprise mainly gold and silver embroidered works in muslin and silk which were worn for weddings, baptisms and other special occasions, the earliest garment being a child’s gold-embroidered silk Christening gown from the 1850s. The selection includes garments for men and women for wearing in the home, outside the home and at the bath house. This is a rare opportunity to see such garments, especially as from the 1940s many Iraqi women, particularly Christians and Jews, adopted the modes of European fashion and the wearing of traditional garments often fell from favour. Enaam will be at Objectspace to discuss more about the history of the textiles and jewellery on display on the following dates: Saturday 22 February 11am, Thursday 27 February, 11am