صورة غلامين من بني شيبة

Content
Genre/Subject Matter:

This full length standing portrait shows two young sons of the Banī Shaybah family, gatekeepers of the Caaba.

The two boys stand side-by-side in matching light-coloured outer robes, which are embroidered at the lapels; under their outer robes each of the boys wears a patterned jalabiya . These garments appear to be cut from the same cloth, except that the pattern is inverted.

The boy on the left wears a pale-coloured turban but the boy on the right wears a keffiyeh held in place by an agal.

The negative has had hand-work applied, causing it to take on a soft-shaded quality in places. In particular, the background appears to have been substituted.

Inscriptions:

Printed above image, in ink:

XIV

Printed beneath image, in ink:

'Kinder aus der Familie der Benī Schēbah (Thorhüter der Ka’bah).'

A circular 'British Museum' blind stamp is located in the lower right corner.

Extent and format
1 collotype print
Physical characteristics
Dimensions:

131 x 93 mm

Format:

1 collotype print

Condition:

The print is in good condition.

Foliation:

‘XIV’

Written in
German in Latin script