Arab Headdress of T.E. Lawrence “Lawrence of Arabia” with Provenance

An amazing and historically important Arab keffiyeh headdress of T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

White cloth Keffiyeh, with tassels to the edges, with its Agal, of the typical ‘Lawrence’ style, this being two pairs of bound white cotton thread bands, each conjoined and affixed with five larger sections of red/crimson thread, the ends with red/crimson chord and large tassel.

Overall, the condition is very good with minor stains, a few small holes and minor repair. 

Lawrence famously wore Arab dress during the Arab Revolt, although he had first discovered how well suited the costume was to desert life when excavating at Carchemish in Syria in the years before World War I. His adoption of Arab dress was practical but also crucial to his mission, which required that he have the trust of the Arab people. Towards the end of the war, he tended to wear more elaborate costume. By the time he returned to Europe after the war, Lawrence had assembled a substantial collection of contemporary Arab dress and he made a number of gifts to friends and family.

Included in the lot are a number of items originally gifted to Lynda Pelham by Donald Stevenson including his scarce 1935 dated RAF Waist Belt with cross straps and two magazine pouches for the 1911 Colt pistol, a 1935 dated newspaper with a front page article, award document for 1937 Coronation medal to Wynn AP Howel Thomas OBE, and the T.E.Lawrence headdress. There is a quantity of research material on Lawrence and various letters requesting information on Donald Stephenson. 

A rare and historically significant Headdress. 

Provenance: Spink 2023

The headdress was gifted to Donald Stephenson (later Air Vice Marshal Stephenson) by T.E. Lawrence. Donald Stephenson later gifted the headdress to Lynda Pedleham in 1970, who sold the headdress on 25 February 2016 and included a signed letter of provenance which accompanies the keffiyeh.

Lynda Pedleham was employed as a housekeeper for Donald Stephenson between 1968 and 1975. In 1970 Stephenson moved home from Trevereux Manor* to Essington Lodge**. The house move occasioned a sort out of contents, several items being given to Lynda Pedleham including Stephenson’s 1925 pattern Waist Belt, a 1935 newspaper, award document for the 1937 Coronation medal to Wynn AP Howel Thomas OBE and the T.E. Lawrence headdress.  Stephenson said to Lynda: “…the headdress was worn by T.E.Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, he gave it to me, keep it as it will be worth something in years to come…”.

Exactly where and when Donald Stephenson and T.E. Lawrence became acquainted is not known, but the career details of  Stephenson offer plenty of opportunities him and Lawrence to become acquaintances.

From Stephenson’s obituary we know he was employed in banking in Baghdad 1925-31 and had a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force 1932-44. Stephenson was a language specialist and interpreter in Arabic. It is possible they became acquainted by either: Stephenson’s activities in Baghdad, Stephenson being taught and subsequently conducting examinations in the Arabic language, or meeting during their service in the RAF and Intelligence Services.

For a similar attributed headdress see lot 142 in Sotheby’s 7/8th November 1996 Auction of Important European and Oriental Costumes, Textiles and Fabric Swatch Books, which realised £34,000.00