IDNO

P.66609.HNL

Description

A farmer using a pair of bullocks and sleigh to thresh wheat?. A house is to the left, and there are three pyramids in the distance. [JD 29/3/2011]

Place

N Africa; Egypt; Near Cairo; Giza

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

?Gaddis, Attaia, Luxor

Collector / Expedition

Hornell, James

Date

circa 1907 - 1935

Collection Name

Hornell Collection

Source

Hornell, Charlotte (Mrs)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.66588.HNL to P.66625.HNL were found in the envelope now numbered C476/7/.

Photographer: Attaya Gaddis (1889 - 1972) was a native Egyptian who worked as an assistant for Antonio Beato in Luxor from 1897, until he purchased the business on Beato’s death in 1907.
Gaddis initially travelled with dignitaries and tourists throughout Egypt, documenting their trips and providing them with souvenir photographs. Independently he began a venture to photograph Egypt, from the pyramids of Giza in the north to the Nubian tribes of Upper Egypt in the very south of the country.
By 1916 Gaddis had garnered national attention and his images were reproduced in guidebooks and historical references on Egypt. The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 caused Attaya's photographic talents to be heavily in demand.
WWII brought thousands of British troops to Egypt revitalizing the country's economy, which had suffered from the great depression of 1929. During this time Gaddis was able to expand his business opening a studio in Ismalia, which specialized in photographing British soldiers as they arrived. At the end of the war there was a great exodus as the majority of British proprietors who had set up shop in Luxor began to return home, this again provided a great business opportunity for Gaddis who opened a second venue, this time a bazaar that catered of the throngs of tourists that now frequented Luxor on a regular basis.
Around 1952, Gaddis began planning for his retirement and passed his business and studio on to his children, his two sons and daughter, none of whom were photographers began focusing on the souvenir part of the business, Gaddis died in 1972 leaving a vast collection of photographs. [Source: Gaddis & Co., www.gaddis-luxor.co.uk/gaddis_shop/attaya_gaddis.htm, JD 29/3/2011]

Date: The dates of circa 1907 - 1937 have entered based on the start of Gaddis’ businessin 1907, to when Hornell appears to have visited Egypt for the last time in 1937. [JD 29/3/2011]