IDNO

P.50956.RDG

Description

Studio portrait of a standing Berber man carrying a guerba (water carrier made from goatskin) on his back against a painted backdrop.
The man is facing to the left of the photograph, with his head bowed but looking up. He is wearing an ikerzi (a traditional Berber turban made from white cloth wound around the head leaving the crown of the head exposed). He has a short goatee and moustache. He is wearing a short pale colored outer wrap ending just above his knees which is tied closely around his waist from straps holding the guerba, obscuring the rest of his clothing.
The guerba on his back is made from dark colored goatskin. At the top there is a leather strap which is worn over the man’s left shoulder and is attached to the loose skin from one of the goat’s legs about half way down the body of the water-skin. A thick piece of string is also attached to this, which is tied to a white handle which the man is holding in his left hand. In his right hand he is holding a bell attached to a chain. He is wearing leather shoes on his feet.
On the floor dried grass and reeds have been scattered. The backdrop has on the right tree trunks and on the left a square podium surrounded by foliage.

Place

N Africa; Morocco; Tangier

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Cavilla, Antonio

Collector / Expedition

Ridgeway, William

Date

circa 1880

Collection Name

Ridgeway Collection

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

The print was found in an envelope now marked C239/ which was inside the wooden drawer I.

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 2/7/2007]