Ensemble

In the pictureSeveral garments are layered on a mannequin. A cream veil covering the head and shoulders is a sheer, thin cloth with vine patterns in white thread. Beneath it, over a blue-gray blouse with a small print, she wears a white vest with blue leaf patterns and gold cord trim, with a blue sash around the waist. In front hangs a blue cloth with white stripes, finished with knotted fringe, and between its edges a cream skirt embroidered with blue geometric bands shows through. A cloth draped over the arm on the left of the picture bears the word "Breaza." and star-shaped motifs in blue thread. The blouse cuffs are edged in blue.

BackgroundThe record lists the materials as cotton, wool, silk, and metal, and as the accession number 2009.300.5a–h indicates, eight parts make up the set. The largest part (h) measures 59.7×294.6cm even without its fringe, and its size suggests it is the veil that hangs from the head. The word "Breaza" on the cloth matches the name of a town in Romania's Prahova region and could be a clue to its origin, but the collection record gives no region. Mabel Choate gave it to the Brooklyn Museum in 1940. The remaining parts are recorded as garments 53.3–101.6cm long and a small item of 21.6cm.

Puzzle tipBlue and cream alternate from top to bottom, so color alone is confusing. First set the center with the blue leaf patterns on the white vest and the blue sash at the waist, and place the cloth piece with the "Breaza" lettering below and to the left. Position the blue front cloth by the direction of its white stripes and the knotted fringe at its end. The sheer veil pieces let the gray behind show through and resemble the background, so fit them last. The clear base plate at the feet marks the bottom center. 100 pieces is a good fit.