Photograph

The photograph depicts the Krikorian family in 1899, probably in Damascus. The men are all wearing dark western-style suits, white shirts with high collars and bow ties or ties. The women’s appearance offers a panorama of European-style urban garments at the close of the 19th century; they follow a similar fashion style, despite the use of different fabrics: long dresses or skirts, blouses with a variety of decorated collars, puffed sleeves and accentuated, close-fitting waists. The appearance also varies according to the age. Most interesting are the boys’ suits with long trousers and jackets, and the elaborate dresses of the little girls sitting on a carpet in the front part of the photograph.

This photograph of Vartouhi Krikorian (née Papazian, 1876-1963) shows only the upper part of her dark-coloured, sleeved dress. It has a square opening on the chest and a double collar (?) with folds on both sides, decorated by a series of six buttons. She is also wearing small earrings. On the lower left corner of the photograph is shown embossed the name of the Armenian photographer B. Karamikian from Damascus.

Photograph of Emma Rahbeh (1886-1964), daughter of Perouze Ohannes Papazian and Joseph Rahbeh. She is wearing a long, high-collared dress with intricate decoration around the neck. The long sleeves are puffed on the upper part and close-fitting to the wrist. Emma has long hair falling over the chest on her left side.

Artistic photograph of Antonia Caruana (later Rahbeh, 1908-2000). She is wearing a light-coloured dress that exposes her shoulder and back. The dress is fastened to a strap, which is made of a series of small artificial flowers. Her hair is styled in a short haircut. Her make-up is clearly visible and impressive: dark lipstick, heavy eyeshadow and black-painted thin eyebrows. The beauty mark above her upper lip could be natural, however it was also fashionable to paint in on.

The photograph shows Adele Shellish and her husband Atilio Carletti. It was taken outdoors, c. 1920. He is wearing a western-style everyday suit over a white shirt. The dark jacket and the vest, made of the same material, are combined with light-coloured trousers and black shoes. Adele is wearing a white, long-sleeved blouse with a V-shaped opening, and a lighter in colour, high-waisted, rather narrow, and ankle-length skirt, also white heeled shoes and stockings.

The photograph was taken in 1913 and shows Yeranig & Elvira Carletti, mother and daughter. Yeranig is wearing a blouse with elbow-length sleeves and a floor-length skirt. Elvira Carletti is wearing a long western-style, light-coloured dress with medium-length sleeves. Encircling her waist is a dark belt and from her neck is hanging a necklace. Both outfits are elegant and accentuate the ladies’ figures. They are wearing similar dark-coloured shoes and stockings. Their coiffure is also similar, with their hair caught up.

This family photograph commemorates the wedding of Elvira Carletti and Alexander Shellish, on the 28th October 1915. The photograph was taken outdoors, in front of the doorway of a building, where a broad painted panel was placed to form the background. The scenery also included a carpet to cover the floor. On the left side of the photograph one can see part of a wooden staircase with plants in flower pots placed on its steps. All guests are dressed with their best clothes, for the special occasion. The bride is wearing an elegant white, floor-length wedding dress with a V-shaped collar, long sleeves puffed on the upper part, and a belt around her waist. She is also wearing arm-length white gloves and a veil attached to an elaborate crown. The lower part of the extremely long, transparent veil extends down on the carpet. In her hands she is holding a small bouquet of flowers. The groom and all other men in the party, with the exception of Cesar Shellish, are all wearing dark western-style suits and white shirts with high collars and either bow ties or ties, and black shoes. The ladies are wearing fashionable, decorated hats of different styles, according to their age, and western-style, long-sleeved, dark-coloured dresses, with the exception of Adele Houry, who is wearing a white blouse under her dress, and Eva Houry, who is sitting on the carpet in front of the bride and is wearing a bright, most probably white dress with embroidered hem and long loose sleeves, also decorated with embroidery at their edges.

Photograph of Elvira Carletti (1896-1990). After her marriage with Alexander Shellish (1881-1979), she was known as Elvira Shellish. The photograph was taken in the garden, in front of the arched portico of a house, c. 1911. Elvira is wearing a sleeved, floor-length white dress with a high neck and a wide collar on the chest. The skirt flares away naturally from her tight waist, around which is a light-coloured belt. She has her hair gathered on both sides and caught up. Both the outfit and the coiffure of the young lady reflect the early 20th century fashion.

Photograph of Dr Clemente Carletti (1839-1919) in the uniform of a Medical Officer in the Imperial Ottoman Army. The upper part of the army uniform is closed at the front with a series of golden buttons, and the belt is fastened with an elaborate buckle. Dr Carletti is also wearing a fez and he is carrying a sabre. He is resting his left arm on a table next to him and looks very serious with his thick moustache. The photograph was taken c. 1875.

The photograph was taken outdoors c. 1880, and it shows five persons wearing typical winter clothes of the time. The only man in the photograph is Dr Clemente Carletti, who is accompanied by his future wife, Yeranig Eramian. Dr Clemente was about to marry the granddaughter of his half-sister, Caterina Luigi Carletti. The age difference between them was 34 years. The other persons in the photograph are Yeranig’s elder sister, Annig Papazian, and her two sisters-in-law. The women are all wearing floor-length dresses with long sleeves, while Annig Papazian and Yeranig Papazian are wearing hip-length jackets, close-fitting to the waist and made of a thick material. Iskouhi Papazian is wearing a shorter jacket, also made of a thicker material than her light-coloured dress. Iskouhi Papazian, Annig Papazian and Yeranig Eramian are all wearing shawls of different fabric over their shoulders. Dr Carletti is wearing a western-style suit with a long overcoat and a bowler hat.