Arabo-Ottoman sword

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Gavin,
Your photograph is an Orientalist photograph not an ethnographic photo.
Orientalist photos and paintings are useful to see the weapons but not really to seek their origins. This photo is a classic Palace or Harem guard. Some guards have Zanzibari saif with Caucasian pistol and Algerian flyssa... Have a look at the Orientalist painting that I posted in your inquiry for Syrian silver work, it's the same, a huge mix.... Best, Kubur

So little is actually known about the photo...of course it is "staged" as photos of the day where not largely instant as they are today but staged with what accuracy is not fully known. All aspects of the image may actually be true and within context under the Orientalists lens rather than brush. I cannot locate a series of photos of the sword and subject matter noted as being from else where so it is likely, based on the historical references of the photo archives I see no reason to doubt it.

http://www.spaarnestadphoto.nl/compo...sultRecord,12/

Gavin