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Men Head cover called Gahfeyah, a sort of hat/cap worn under the Ghutra and Aqa'al to hold the Ghutra in place. It is made of cotton with white embroidery. The Gahfeyah is still in use today.
20th century
Object Name: Skull cap
Period: 20th century
Date: 1900-1999
Provenance: Qatar
Dimensions: 7.5cmx18cmx18cm, weight:10g
Medium: textile,polyester,cotton,metal thread
Registration Number: QNM.N.2015.10
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Qatar
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This is a Men Head cover called Gahfeyah, a sort of hat/cap head wear worn under the Ghutra and Aqa'al made of cotton. worn to hold the Ghutra in place and is made of cotton with white embroidery on it. a transformation of this head wear with a net top instead of the cotton top is common nowadays. This Gahfeyah is still used nowadays as well. Headpiece comprising of circular crown and long rectangular band with the ends stiched together and along the circular edge and to create the three dimensional shape.
The headpiece is made with 2 layers- stiff white woven cotton lining and a white synthetic outer layer which has excess farbic causing it to 'bunch up' in several areas.
The 2 layers have been attached using a decorative tambour or chain stitch in white synthetic thread.
There is gold embroidered character or letter on the lining at the crown which is not visible on the outer layer.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
The Qatar Peninsula is surrounded by sea except in the south where it connects with its neighbours from the Arabian Peninsula. For hundreds of years people have shared the land, resources and knowledge inherited from their environment. With no fixed lifestyle in terms of time and place, people moved easily and freely between land and sea for trade, livestock, pearl diving, fishing, and hunting at various times throughout the year. This symbiotic relationship between the people and their environment was represented in the unity of their societies, including the exchange of knowledge, stories and the trading of available goods.

A distinctive characteristic of life on the Qatar Peninsula has long been the close association between the coast and the desert – al barr. Some desert tribes spent several months of the year in coastal cities, setting up semi-permanent residences to participate in pearl diving or fishing. Similarly, coastal residents occasionally moved to al barr during the winter to graze their livestock. This exchange of natural resources and the influence of different environments has contributed to the creation of a unique community.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT - REGION/GULF/WORLD
The presence of British, French and Dutch trading companies in the Gulf from the early 1600s brought uncertainty to the region, with unstable alliances and intense competition over trade routes. As trade flourished, however, the strength of the Arab tribes increased. Many Arab tribes moved from the interior of the Arabian Peninsula to Qatar, and by the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the major towns of the Gulf were founded. Several towns flourished on the Qatari coast, including Huwailah, Khor Hassan, Fuwairat, Ruwaida, Freiha, Al Bidda and Doha. The most notable was Al Zubara which became a hub for the Gulf pearl trade.
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