Abstract :
The “muhallefat” i.e. tereke (estate) registers in the Ottoman Empire contain inheritance records of decedent people. Despite some limitations on subjects such as number of children in family, polygyny, wealth, status, portion of the inheritance, goods used, prices of goods, and investment instruments, these records are very important. This study involves information about clothes, which was an element of the material culture in Sofia during the second half of the 17th century. Inheritance records of rich women contain detailed information about clothes, which is an important element of the material culture. It was observed that women had various and different prices of underwear, gowns and street clothes. Shirts, pants, snapsuits, loose robes, gentians, kaftans, furs, enclosed gowns, feraces and macrames became prominent as the primary clothing products. The type, color, and workmanship of the fabric used affected the price of clothes. Cotton, wool and silk fabric types from which clothes were manufactured were also examined in this study. The caps, belts, jewelleries and accessories used by rich women had a wealth value. The caps and accessories that were worn by the women on their heads involved hair ribbons, istifans, hoods and perisanis. Being among the jewelleries of women that indicated their investments and their addiction to ornaments and grace; the bracelets, rings, earrings, and bangles were highly expensive and glossy. According to the records, women preferred golden jewelleries and their rings and earrings had pearl, emerald, ruby, garnet, and sapphire stones.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Sofia , tereke (estate) registers , woman , material culture , clothes
