Edward William Lane (1801-1876) lived in Cairo for several years. He immersed himself in Egyptian society: he adopted local dress, rented a house in the Arab Quarter, and developed a wide circle of Egyptian friends. Trained as an engraver, he recorded his observations in sketches and drawings, and he kept diaries and notebooks. When he returned to England he became a renowned Arabic scholar.
The Ashmolean has a set of Turkish-style clothing worn by Lane during his time in Cairo, donated by his direct descendant Catherine Dupré. This jacket is sewn in Turkish style, with cross over fastenings and pink silk braid. The mixture of silk and cotton is called mashru.
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