Kontusz

Stanisław Antoni Szczuka in a representative national Polish outfit. A red kontusz tied with a pas kontuszowy. Underneath a żupan with a low collar. Left hand holds a fur cap with a low band. Characteristic hair and moustache. A portrait by an unknown artist. Wilanów

Kontusz (pronounce /'kɔntuʃ/) is a type of outer garment worn by the Polish and Lithuanian male landed gentry. It became popular in the 16th century and came to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth via Hungary from Turkey. In the 17th century, worn over an inner garment (żupan), the kontusz became the most notable element of male Polish national attire.

A szlachcic - nobleman in a Polish national outfit: a red kontusz and a blue żupan, tied with yellow pas kontuszowy.

The kontusz was a long robe, usually reaching to below the knees, with a set of decorative buttons down the front. The sleeves were long and loose, on hot days worn untied. In winter a fur lining could be attached to the kontusz, or a delia worn over it. The kontusz was usually of a vivid color, and the lining had to be of a contrasting hue. The kontusz was tied with a long, wide belt called a pas kontuszowy.

In 1776, Sejm deputies from different voivodships of Poland were obliged to wear different-colored żupans and kontuszes denoting their voivodships.

See also:

• delia
• ferezja
• pas kontuszowy
• sukmana
• żupan