Lot 95
  • 95

# - Levant Photographs.

Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
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Description

  • "Ensemble de photographes, principalement des ateliers de Pascal Sebah, Guillaume Berggren et Abdullah Frères, relatives à la Grèce, la Turque et l'Egypte", [c.1875]
A collection of 48 albumen prints, mounted, housed in a modern cloth clamshell case titled in gilt as above, comprising 20 photographs by Pascal Sebah (15 of Greece, 4 of Egypt and one of Constantinople), 11 by Guillaume Berggren (all of Constantinople), 4 by Abdullah Frères (all of Constantinople), and 13 by unidentified photographers (10 of Constantinople and 3 of soldiers from Asia Minor)

Literature

see Ken Jacobson, Odalisques and Arabesques: Orientalist Photography 1839-1925 (London, 2007)

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Pascal Sebah (1823–1886) was the son of a Syrian father and an Armenian mother. The photographic firm started by him in Constantinople was one of the most prolific studios in the Orient. Guillaume Berggren (1835–1920) was a Swedish immigrant who settled in Constantinople in 1866 and made a series of studies with Constantinople imagery. The three Abdullah brothers, Vichen, Kevork and Hovsep, established a firm which has been called "unquestionably the most important photography studio in the Ottoman Empire" (Bahattin Öztuncay).

A complete list of the photographs is available on request.