An Armenian bride of Constantinople, 19th century

The photograph shows a 19th-century Armenian bride from Constantinople between 2 women. The wedding attire is heavy and richly decorated: a long veil falls from her head, and her face is covered with long shining threads. The woman on the left wears a headscarf and a striped dress, the one on the right a long European-style dress.

The bride's attire speaks of the solemnity of the wedding ritual, of customs handed down through generations and of the family's social standing. The photograph was taken by the renowned Armenian photographer Pascal Sébah and is an exceptional record of the daily life, culture and wedding traditions of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire.