غرفة عروس مزخرفة، تجلس العروس البكر على الكرسي في ليلة الدخلة

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

The image shows a richly ornamented interior scene in the bridal chamber. The virgin bride is placed onto the throne (seat) on the first night of marriage, laylat al-duk̲h̲la .

The interior consists of a roughly square space, with nine equally sized recesses on three walls. The bridal throne ( arīkah ) is located in the middle of the three recesses that are visible in the lower centre of the image. A close-up view of the throne and the left-hand recess alongside it can be seen in the second of two images – X463/20 – presented together.

An arched portico, around which detailed cloth or tile decoration can be seen, separates the camera from the bridal chamber. Although in each of the nine recesses glass lanterns hang, natural light illuminates the decoration visible around the arch, while a further lower ceiling – just visible in the upper part of the image – is shrouded in darkness.

A glass chandelier hangs low on a long cord in the space lit by natural light in the middle-ground.

This is the first of two related images.

Inscriptions:

Above the top image, on the right, in ink: ‘XVIIIa’

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

101 x 130 mm

Format:

Collotype print, pasted into volume

Condition:

The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.

Foliation:

‘XVIIIa’

Process:

Collotype

Written in
Arabic in Arabic script