Armenian bride from the Nukha and Shamakhi area

The photograph shows an Armenian bride from the Nukha and Shamakhi area of the Russian Empire, in traditional wedding dress, around the 1880s.

Such dress was typical of the Armenian communities of the Eastern Caucasus and stood out for its rich decoration, headdress and metal ornaments. The wedding costume played an important role in preserving national identity and in showing the family’s social standing.

The seated young woman wears a headdress with metal ornaments and a long veil, a cross on her chest and bracelets on her wrists.