Village woman's ornamental kohl holder (mukholeh) made of red, yellow and black striped Syrian silk satin (atlas), lined with handwoven indigo dyed cotton on the back, and padded with cotton and wool stuffing. The sides are trimmed with dark magenta, yellow, green, white floss silk tassels attached to white and red glass beads. It is decorated with rows of silver coins and coloured glass and plastic beads. Two kohl containers at either side are made of tubular bamboo reeds with pink and blue and purple and blue velvet and silk tasselled stops. The applier is placed in the middle bamboo tube, it is made of a carved wooden stick with a beaded tassel.
Curator's comments: From Asia Floor Card "also used as wall ornament". Text from Weir 1994:250: A khol holder 'mukholeh', Galilee, British Mandate Period. The khol (antimony) is in two small containers at each side, and is applied with the stick in the centre. the large padded holder, ornamented with red 'atlas' fabric, coins, beads and floss silk, is entirely for decorative purposes. Khol holders were often decorated with ostrich feathers (like the bride in the wedding procession). Beit Dajan brides danced for their husbands on the wedding night hoilding the khol holder.
Village woman's ornamental kohl holder (mukholeh) made of triangular patches of synthetic burgundy and green velvet, blue wool, and orange silk brocade, padded with unknown stuffing, and lined with patterned yellow and red cotton. The edges are trimmed with a pleated orange silk and round patches of fabric with metal foil buttons stitched on. A brown glass bottle for the kohl is embedded in the top right corner of the cushion-like holder.
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https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_As1968-05-7
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_As1968-12-30
