Istanbul Cadi, Standard Bearer, Head Cook and a Water Carrier, 1842

This is an original antique lithograph, hand colored, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows three men. At the left a man in a tall white cap with a plume, a purple jacket with red and yellow frogging, a red sash, a white pleated skirt and green boots holds a curved sword upright. In the center a bearded standard bearer in a tan turban, a crimson cape over an olive robe and full white trousers grasps a tall lance flying a red and yellow pennant and clasps hands with the man at the right. He is the head cook, in a tall yellow headdress, a blue robe bordered in gold over tiers of white cloth, and yellow boots. The lower image shows a water carrier in a large striped turban, a purple jacket hung with gold ornaments, a broad belt and striped full trousers, leading a horse that carries a saddle and a large water container. Beside him a cook in a tall yellow cap and blue jacket rests a hand on his arm. A domed structure stands at the left edge.

The plate is lettered "Tav 111" at the upper left, "EUROPA" in the center and "Tom IV" at the upper right. The upper captions read "Istambul-Cadi" (Cadi of Istanbul), "Alfiere" (standard bearer) and "Capo Cuciniere" (head cook), and the lower captions read "Saca o Porta-acqua con cavallo" (saka or water carrier with horse) and "Cuciniere" (cook).

A cadi was an Ottoman judge, and the saka, the water seller, was a familiar figure on the streets of Istanbul, delivering water by horse or on his back.

The plate makes a colorful addition to a collection of Ottoman or Near Eastern costume.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.