Habit of Emir Bashaw in 1749

by Thomas Jefferys

The highly detailed copperplate engraving from Thomas Jefferys' collection illustrates a carefully rendered representation of the Ottoman nobility in the middle of the eighteenth century. This is an image of an Emir Bashaw (Pasha), who was a member of the ruling class and possibly even a provincial governor of the Ottoman Empire, dressed in his "habit."

It should be noted that the engraving is marked by the elaborate design of the caftan and a huge turban that played an essential role in establishing social status and religious heritage in 1749. Jefferys' engraving captures the fascination of the Enlightenment era with "The Orient," combining the beauty of art with an early anthropological interest in documenting various costumes around the world.