Antique albumen print, a studio portrait of two Egyptian ladies in traditional burqas. Titled on the lower left "Femmes Egyptienne Nr 445" and signed "Abdullah Freres" on the lower right. Slight signs of wear and fading. Newly framed.
Abdullah Freres were three Armenian-Ottoman brothers – Vichen (1820–1902), Hovsep (1830–1908), and Kevork Abdullahyan (1839–1918) – who became highly regarded photographers in the 19th century. They established their studio in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1858, gaining recognition for their portraits of sultans, dignitaries, and cityscapes. Their photography played a significant role in documenting the late Ottoman period, and in 1863, they were appointed official photographers to Sultan Abdulaziz. From 1866 to 1895, the brothers also ran a studio in Cairo, Egypt.