'Aden Arab'. Photographer: Unknown

T.11308/6

1 items in this record

See all items in a listSee all items in a slider

Search within this record

The record is made up of 1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print. It was created in Mid 1870s. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

About this record

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

This full-length standing studio portrait of an Arab man is intended to demonstrate an ethnic or class ‘type’. In particular, this image is intended to illustrate the habits of dress as described by Frederick Mercer Hunter in the preceding pages (pp. 43-44). Hunter describes these as follows:

‘The Arabs of Aden have adopted the dress of the people inhabiting the Lahej district. This consists, in the male sex, Firstly , of a turban (doosmal) of Surat manufacture […] Secondly .—A loose jacket (shaiah), reaching to the hips, made of white or dyed cotton […] Thirdly .—A sort of kilt (maawiz) made of cotton, with a white coloured border […] Fourthly .—Over the left shoulder is hung a sort of scarf (radîf), made of cotton […] Fifthly .—Sandals (madâs) [...].’

The man in this image is leaning on a stick in his left hand and appears to have markings, perhaps tattoos, on his calves: one immediately above his right ankle, one below his left knee.

Inscriptions:

In pencil, upper right corner adjacent to print: ‘6’

Extent and format

1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

It is part of

'An Account of the British Settlement of Aden in Arabia', compiled by Captain F.M. Hunter

15 images

Ref: T.11308

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

92 x 57 mm [portrait]

Format:

1 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print pasted to backing paper and mounted between pp. 44-45

Materials:

Silver printing-out paper, albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

Condition:

The print is unevenly hand-cut but in good condition, with some minute stains in the upper left corner.

Foliation:

‘6’

Process:

Albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Photograph

Archive information for this record

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: T.11308/6
Date(s): Mid 1870s (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects: Ethnographic heritage
Places: Aden
People & organisations: Frederick Mercer Hunter

Share this record

Cite this record in your research

'Aden Arab'. Photographer: Unknown, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, T.11308/6, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023400730.0x00000a> [accessed 20 February 2025]

Link to this record