Habit of a Tartarian Woman in 1768

by Thomas Jefferys

"Habit of a Tartarian Woman," an engraving created by Thomas Jefferys in 1768, epitomizes the art of ethnographic representation in the 18th century.

This copperplate engraving from the middle of the 18th century portrays the elaborate dress of the "Tartarian" (possibly Tatar or Central Asian) woman. Contrasting with the tight silhouette and corsets that characterize the fashion of Londoners in the 1760s, the Tartarian costume consists of a bulky, loose-fitting kaftan-type robe suitable for the extreme climate and nomadic existence of its wearer.

The depiction includes an elaborate headdress, possibly indicating marital or tribal status, decorated with elaborate needlework or metal accessories. The drapery in the illustration implies the use of hardy silks and wool fabrics, contrasted with fine trimmings.