In 2025, Wereldmuseum conducted further research on caftan TM-5697-1, originally part of the TM collection. Since velvet clothing with gold thread embroidery is made throughout the Maghreb, our research was supposed to focus on the specific style of this caftan – namely the two peacocks at the bottom of the garment and the scattered floral, vegetal and bird motifs – to determine whether we could find more specific information about its origin based on these designs.
We evaluated our initial sources and expanded our search to include print publications and online records. In doing so, we found reliable sources that point to the production of velvet caftans with two gold-thread embroidered peacocks at the bottom in Fez in the second half of the twentieth century. Online sources and literature consulted also show that Maison Azzi in Constantine has been producing a similar caftan with two peacocks at the bottom for several decades.
We have not found any other modern producers of black velvet caftans with two gold-thread embroidered peacocks at the bottom in Algeria. In light of these findings, we have been able to trace the production of this type of caftan back to Fez and Maison Azzi. You can find the new documentation for this caftan here.
We try to ensure that all the information we share with our public is as up to date as possible and, as such, our documentation evolves as new research is conducted.