Black and white

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.

Photograph of Minnie Eramian, the daughter of Margarita Eramian (née Carletti). She was born in 1903 and in 1929 she married Peter Prince (1894-1972). This photograph must have been taken on the same day and time with the previous photograph, also at the same place. In this photograph, however, it is Minnie who is sitting in the armchair with her elbow resting on the small round table. She is all alone, wearing the same white, transparent summer dress with its fine embroidery at the edges of the elbow-length sleeves and all around the hem of the dress in symmetrical continuous arches, also the same white shoes, tied with laces. She is also wearing the same jewellery and has her black hair tied at the back with a bow. Apart from the beautiful lacework, which is seen on the back of the armchair, there is also an embroidered cushion, both handicrafts typical of an urban household. The handsome young Minnie is looking at the spectator smiling.

Photograph taken in a garden with rich vegetation. It shows Minnie (Hermine, Herminia) Eramian (1903-2000), and her mother Margarita Eramian (née Carletti) (1868-1954). Minnie is sitting on a cushion and is wearing a calf-length dress made of a white, light material. It has a V-shaped opening with a collar, elbow-length sleeves with embroidered edges and around the waist a belt of the same fabric, tied with a bow at the back. The hem of the dress is also decorated with embroidery. She is further wearing thin bracelets on both her wrists, as well as a watch on her left wrist and a brooch (?) on the left side of her chest. High-heeled shoes with laces complete this fine, light outfit. She is also holding a bag. The middle-aged mother is wearing a western-style, long white dress made of a light material and with loose sleeves that reach her elbows. Encircling her waist, or rather a bit higher, is a dark-coloured belt. Margarita has curly hair, which is caught up. She is sitting in an armchair with her left arm resting on a round table, on which is standing a little dog. On the back of the armchair is spread a piece of fine white lace.

Wedding photograph of Peter Prince and Minnie (Hermine, Herminia) Eramian. She was born in 1903 and married on 10 September 1929 Peter Prince (1894-1972), who was the son of the well-known Maronite Elias Prince; Peter was the representative of an Italian shipping company in Nicosia and was a high-ranking government official. In the photograph he is wearing a black, western-style suit with a three-quarter-length coat over a white shirt with high collar and a tie, also white gaiters on top of his shiny black shoes. In his hands he is holding a bowler hat. Minnie is wearing a lace-covered, layered, western-style wedding dress that almost reaches her ankles. Her light-coloured shoes have high heels and a single strap. Her headdress, on which a long lace veil is attached, is covered with intricate decoration and pearls. The bride is also wearing white gloves and is holding a bouquet of flowers. The whole appearance is typical of the fashion of 1920s.

Margarita Eramian (née Carletti, 1868-1954) has been photographed seated in an armchair with a small dog on her lap. She is wearing a dark-coloured blouse with long narrow sleeves puffed on the upper part, and a high collar closed in front with a brooch. The bust is rich in folds narrowing down to a close-fitting waist. The fabric of the skirt is much lighter in colour than the blouse. Margarita is also wearing a small silver bracelet on her wrist and small pearl earrings. Her curly hair appears to be caught up at the back.

The photograph was taken to commemorate the wedding of Artin Eramian and Margarita Carletti. They married on 22 June 1895. Artin worked with Lieutenant Kitchener and later became Chief of Police in Larnaca. His death, if it happened in Cyprus, remains a mystery. In the photograph he is wearing a western-style suit, made of a dark, most probably black, fabric. The suit jacket is short and has two dark buttons on each side. He is also wearing a white long-sleeved and high-collared shirt, a white bow tie and white gloves. In his left hand he is holding a bowler hat. The bride is wearing a white, western-style floor-length wedding dress with a high collar and big leg-of-mutton sleeves. A belt is accentuating her waist. Across her chest and on other parts of the wedding dress one can see an elaborate flower decoration. Her long veil is attached to an impressive flower crown that is resting on the top of her head.

Margarita Eramian (née Carletti, 1868-1954) is sitting in front of a round table and seems to be reading a book, which she is holding open on the table. She is wearing a long-sleeved, high-necked blouse made from a bright material similar to lace with intricate flower patterns. Over the blouse she is wearing a box-collared dress with a tight bust and tucked waist. She is also wearing a small ring, earrings and a bracelet, while her hair is caught up with a butterfly clip. With her right hand on her cheek, the young lady seems to be concentrated on her reading.