A VERY ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL : CONSTANTINOPLE : OTTOMAN EMPIRE : CABINET CARD

An extraordinarily adorable little girl holding a basket, poses next to a white chair. She is well dressed and wearing a ribbon (possibly a flower) in her hair. The child’s portrait was taken at the studio of Theodore Servanis. The studio was located in Constantinople, Turkey (Ottoman Empire). Servanis was a Greek photographer working in Constantinople from the 1900’s to the 1920’s. This photo is from the early stages of his career in the city. This cabinet card photograph has edgewear. Possibly, (not definitely) the sides are trimmed. Overall, the cabinet card is in very good condition. The image itself, is in Excellent Condition (See Scans)

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Buy this Vintage Cabinet Card photograph (includes shipping within the US) #5286

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$68.00

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Buy this Vintage Cabinet Card (includes International shipping outside the US) 5286

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$78.00

Published in: on December 11, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO YOUNG WOMEN POSE FOR PORTRAIT IN MARAS, TURKEY : SLIGHTLY AFTER THE ARMENIAN MASSACRE (1922)

This vintage real photo postcard features two young woman photographed by a studio in Maras, Turkey. Before 1973, the city was named Kahramanmaras. Maras was part of the Ottoman Empire. During War I the empire allied with Germany. In 1919, post war, Maras was occupied by British, and later, French troops. After the “Battle of Marash” (1920), the Turkish National Movement took control. The Battle of Marash was fought between the Turkish National Forces and French forces occupying Maras. It was first major battle of the Turkish War for Independence. The battle caused the French to retreat and abandon Maras. A consequence of the withdrawal of French troops was the Turkish massacre of Armenian refugees who were just repatriated to Maras following the Armenian Genocide. It is believed that between 5,000 and 12,000 Armenians were killed in Maras after the withdrawal. According to the stamp on the reverse of the card, this postcard photograph was taken in 1922. One wonders if the two women/girls seen in this image are Armenian or Turkish. If they are Armenian, imagine how traumatized they must have been considering it was only two years after the massacre occurred. The subjects of this photo are a study in contrast. The girl in the dark dress shows a lot of emotion. She looks troubled or frightened. The woman dressed in the light dress appears void of emotion. Her affect seems very flat. The pair are posed standing on a pretty rug with a background of another rug. I have never seen a photo portrait staged this way. (SOLD)

Published in: on October 23, 2019 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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