"Mata Hari of Kashmir" Edna Bellefontaine's Antique OTTOMAN Bindalli Gold Metallic, Hand Embroidered Dress.
This stunning dress is a beautiful addition to any vintage clothing collection. With intricate metallic gold hand embroidery on a rich red velvet fabric, it exudes elegance and sophistication. The Bindalli (dress) features a caftan style with a regular fit, perfect for a wedding or any other special occasion.
Made in Türkiye in the nineteenth century, this dress is an original antique piece that showcases exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. Its unique design and timeless appeal make it a highly sought-after item. It is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to make a statement and stand out from the crowd.
A little history:
As you may have noticed, there are pictures within the sales pictures reflecting a few yet unexplained items that are part of what makes this dress a bit more expensive than the average seeker might expect.
Rather than engage in attempt to explain a time in Middle Eastern history that may be to song forgotten, and two others irrelevant I will try to be brief. Around the year 1948 there was great upheaval in and around the land of Kashmir. This situation involved Kashmir which was a state of it's own and those who wanted to maintain this freedom at whatever the cost. One of the top personalities of mid eastern politics, wealth, and revolution was Sheik Abdullah Mohammed.
He had made the aquaintence of an extremely beautiful, blonde artist and traditional dancer who was born in England who had become iconic for her incredible knowledge and capabilities that attracted the attention of the elite which at that time was a mix of middle eastern royalty as to well as United States, British and other powerful nations sent there as ambassadors in what turns out to be the forming of the United Nations.
The description of Miss Bellefontaine down to the color of her hair is to help paint a bittersweet picture of a woman's life. A life that for reasons outside of the sands of time, has been erased from middle eastern history for political reasons as well as the personal wishes perhaps of the descendants of "The Lion Of Kashmir" and numerous others. Any way it's twisted by people in denial who choose to whitewash history to fit a need that be is less than fact or truth.
As the heir to the Bellefontaine estate I wish to do whatever I must to see that history stands correct and true. With that said, it is necessary to reveal to the world a very interesting take on life among (and AS) the richest and the poorest that centers in 1940s Kashmir. From Miss Bellefontaine's well written manuscripts, one can begin to learn about numerous elements of middle eastern history as likely never before read or heard because they are the thoughts often forbidden of a woman. Miss Bellefontaine was also a woman's rights advocate.
This dress was owned by her. I believe it to be the gift of a king, but I currently have no supporting information. I just know that she didn't want to exit this life and forever in be the hidden away byproduct of lies.
The sale of her dress is essentially a vehicle of necessity in my endeavor to shed some light on a stitch in time full of great adventure, triumphs and tragedies. The woman known around the world as "Mata Hari of Kashmir."
Thank you for taking the time to visit and consider the article of clothing that is for sale, as well as the story of Edna "Mata Hari of Kashmir" Bellefontain