Photograph of Fevzi Akarsu and Ali Hasan Yorgancı no. 031

Photograph taken in 1931 in the studio of Fevzi Akarsu, commemorating the wedding of Sadiye Ali (1905-1989) and Ali Hasan Yorgancı (1906-1989) (the same persons as in No. 030). The painted background shows a window and a low table on which stands a vase with flowers, all white. The bride, Sadiye Ali, wears a white wedding-dress (gelinlik) decorated with hand-embroidered spiral patterns in purple colour on the chest, and a single line around the neck. The dress is long, down to the ankles, and shows a narrow horizontal strip of the same cloth just below the waist. The dark hair forms waves along the front and falls down over the shoulders on the chest (a similar coiffure to that of the bride in No. 027). The head is covered with an impressive crown composed of artificial, handmade flowers, white and yellow. From the crown falls a long veil (duvak) with golden yellow tinsels along its inner sides (tel). Thin, transparent stockings and black button bar shoes complement the wedding attire. Around the neck there is a black ribbon of thick silk tissue (mantin) from which hang a bendo and three red/golden lira (kırmızı (altın) lira), of pure gold. This is a characteristic traditional jewel. The left hand of the bride is resting on the groom’s shoulder. Her fingers are painted with henna, as was customary (the dark-painted fingers of the right hand are seen more clearly). The groom wears a loom-woven white silk shirt with soft black-striped collar and broad sleeves with cuffs; also black knee-breeches and a wide Tripoli sash (tarabulus kuşak) around the waist; the colours of the sash match those of the hand-knitted stockings, which are decorated with checkered patterns. He also wears black elastic-sided ankle boots. Worth mentioning is the special hair style with hair parting in the middle and falling on either side with ends turning upwards; this style is called horaşa/horoşa by the Turkish Cypriots (probably related to the Greek word horístra, parting). He has thick eyebrows and moustache. Although accompanied by the traditional tall headdress, the wedding attire of the bride seems to follow the fashion of 1930. On the other hand, the groom is traditionally dressed, as is the case with the couple in No. 027. Source: Mehmet Yorgancı ailesi. Village: Kiados (Çatoz), Mesaoria, Famagusta District.