The women in the Ottoman harem were responsible every year for sewing and embroidering the silk cloth (kiswa) [1] that would cover the Kaaba. Traditionally its color was black and the embroidery on it was gold thread. The writing was, and still is, chosen from verses in the Quran. Once completed, it would be placed in a decorated carrying case and loaded on a camel that had been especially chosen for the honor of taking the cloth to Mecca. Pilgrims traveling from İzmir, the European side of the empire and Uzbeks from Central Asia would join the pilgrimage in Istanbul. This great caravan would leave from Üsküdar with a heavy escort but not before a magnificent ceremony was held at Topkapı Palace. Another caravan, coming from the East, would join the one from Istanbul at Damascus. Suraiya Faroqhi writes in “Pilgrims and Sultans” that at the end of the 16th century, 60 camels were set aside for pilgrims who were poor and of these 20 would carry food. Camels were also provided to carry water barrels just in case water couldn’t be found on the road. In addition, in the 17th century we learn that at least 349 camels were set aside for the use of influential people. This must have been a truly impressive sight.
Mavi Boncuk | Constantinople/Constantinople Tapis Sacre[1] Sürre Alayı
Constantinople/Constantinople Scene de rue
Chusseau-Flaviens, Ch.[2] French (active 1890s-1910s)|ca. 1900-1919 | negative, gelatin on glass
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Fete du Tapis Sacre." (Lichtenstern & Harari)[1] Kiswah (Arabic: كسوة الكعبة, kiswat al-ka'bah) is the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is draped annually on the 9th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day pilgrims leave for the plains of Mount Arafat during the Hajj.[1] The term kiswah is Arabic for 'pall', the cloth draped over a casket, and is a cognate of the Hebrew word kisui. From the time of the Ayubids, precisely during the reign of the As-Salih Ayyub, the kiswa was manufactured in Egypt. It was sent in a huge annual parade before the hajj season. Material for the kiswah was brought from Sudan, India, Egypt and Iraq. The tradition continued until 1927, when its manufacture was moved to Saudi Arabia.
[2] Charles Chusseau-Flaviens was a French independent photojournalist of the ca. 1890s to 1910s. His distribution of other photographer's work for publication created one of the first photo press agencies, located at 46 Rue Bayen, Paris.Chusseau-Flaviens' by-line appeared on numerous photographs from every European country as well as from Africa, the Middle East, the Orient and the United States. According to researchers, no biographical information about Chusseau-Flaviens is known.
A substantial portion of his photographic collection, represented by nearly 11,000 glass negatives, was donated by Kodak Pathé to the George Eastman House (GEH) International Museum of Photography and Film in 1974. Due to the relative lack of photographs representing France, it has been speculated that a large collection of Chusseau-Flaviens' work remains undiscovered. Journals in which Chusseau-Flaviens images appeared include Ilustracāo Portugueza, L'Illustration, The Illustrated London News,Le Monde and The Graphic. As a syndicate, the agency acquired photographs from working (mostly commercial) photographers all around the world. At least 160 photographers spanning five continents contributed to this collection. Based on the material it appears the agency ceased operations during the first world war.