'Vornehmner Kaufmann (Bevollmächtigter des Grossscherifs) mit seinem cirkassischen Sklaven'. Photographer: al-Sayyid ʻAbd al-Ghaffār

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

This group portrait shows a merchant, likely a Meccan, described in the title as the representative of the Grand Scharīf, and his Circassian slave.

Both men wear embroidered or printed robes; while the man on the left’s outer robe is made of plain cloth, the merchant’s outer robe is made of material printed with a recurring, perhaps floral pattern and what appear to be embroidered lapels. He carries a string of beads in his right hand and wears a light-coloured turban. The man described as a slave wears a fez.

The negative has had hand-work applied, causing it to take on a soft-shaded quality in places, particularly in the face of the merchant. The original background has been substituted completely.

Temporal Context

The photograph was taken between March 1886 and February 1887, according to Durkje van der Wal in his publication Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885 , Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, p. 36. This attribution is based on unpublished correspondence in the Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje Archive, University of Leiden Library.

Inscriptions:

Printed above image, in ink:

XI

Printed beneath image, in ink:

‘Vornehmer Kaufmann (Bevollmächtigter des Grossscherifs) mit seinem cirkassischen Sklaven.’

A circular 'British Museum' blind stamp is located in the lower right corner.

Extent and format

1 collotype print

It is part of

‘Bilder-Atlas zu Mekka’, by Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje

138 images

Ref: 1781.b.6

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

249 x 185 mm

Format:

1 collotype print

Condition:

The print is in good condition.

Foliation:

‘XI’

Written in

German in Latin script

Type

Photograph

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

1781.b.6/11

History of this record

Date(s)

1886-1887 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Portrait photography

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Cite this record in your research

'Vornehmner Kaufmann (Bevollmächtigter des Grossscherifs) mit seinem cirkassischen Sklaven'. Photographer: al-Sayyid ʻAbd al-Ghaffār, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, 1781.b.6/11, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023619120.0x000024> [accessed 15 February 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023619120.0x000024

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