Not currently on display at the V&A

Traditional houses with mushrabiyya (projected wooden windows), Cairo

Photograph
1890s (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Sebah, Jean Pascal (photographer)
Place of origin
Cairo (photographed)

A mounted albumen print showing a topographical view of Cairo, Egypt


Object details

Category
Historic Cairo
Object type
Photograph
Titles
  • Traditional houses with mushrabiyya (projected wooden windows), Cairo (generic title)
  • Balcons (Moucharabieh) (published title)
Materials and techniques
albumen print
Photography
Brief description
Photograph by Jean Pascal Sebah, captioned 'Cairo: Street scene (Houses with Balconies) - Balcons (Moucharabieh)', probably from Bulaq. Cairo, Egypt, albumen print, c. 1890's
Physical description
A mounted albumen print showing a topographical view of Cairo, Egypt
Gallery label
Photographs of mashrabiyyahs A mashrabiyyah is a decorative screen assembled from small pieces of joined wood. These were once a distinctive feature of Cairo’s streets, mainly in the form of large, protruding window enclosures on upper floors. As well as providing privacy, they also allowed the air to circulate. Residents placed their water jars inside them to keep their drinks cool. Few of these window enclosures are visible in Cairo’s streets today, but these photographs capture the drama they added to the streetscape when they were commonplace. 5. Mashrabiyyah Between 1880 and 1890 Albumen print photograph Jean Pascal Sébah Museum No. PH.1318-1896 (2019-2020)
Object history
Given to the Museum in 1896 by Mr. Somers Clarke
Production
Jean Pascal Sebah, Inventory number 217 (Cairo)
Place depicted
Cairo
Associations
Egypt
Cairo
Other number
217 - Jean Pascal Sebah Cairo Inventory number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
PH.1318-1896

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 22, 2014
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1299259/traditional-houses-with-mushrabiyya-projected-photograph-sebah-jean-pascal/
Download as: JSON