Music, Literature, Dance and Fashion | Literature | Folk tales and story-telling in Arab and Ottoman lands

In societies where illiteracy was high, folk literature was invoked to cater for the needs of the many by bringing the creations of folk artists and elite writers to non-readers.

The folk literary genre found its clearest expression in two forms: religious performances to celebrate the birthday of holy men and story-telling in coffee houses. Sufi groups executed these performances at religious festivals in the form of religious songs. At religious festivals, secular and religious activities took place side by side and were the main outlet for folk artists; but story-tellers recited extracts from the Arabian Nights and Taghribat Bani Hilal and many other popular tales, including stories from Antara ibn Shaddad (Antara bin Abs), in coffee houses and occasionally in folk theatres as well. The translator of Arabian Nights, Edward W. Lane, in his book Manners and Customs of Modern Egyptians (1833‒5), describes in detail how poetic citations were inserted to reinforce the context during performances and how tales were accompanied by music. The oral tradition was never static and new tales continued to be added up until the 19th century.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
FR 162One Thousand and One Nights: Arabic fairytales tanslated by Galland, illustrated by the best French artists…National Library of France 1875The story behind The Thousand and One Nights (also known as the Arabian Nights) is puzzling. There are various Arabic editions and a number of translations. The origin of each tale is ancient, however, and rooted in various geographical and cultural areas.

PD 034A reproduction of the painting A Cafe in IstanbulSource: http://www.thy.com/tr-TR/corporate/skylife/article.aspx?mkl=298via Wikimedia Commons1850-1882Performances by story-tellers reciting folk literature were held in venues similar to this Ottoman coffee house.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
PD 033The story-teller of Maqha al-NawfaraMuseum With No Frontiers (MWNF)Contemporary photoA story-teller in a coffee house in Damascus. In the background, on the wall, are two drawings from the epic poem by Antara bin Abs.
JO 015RababaJordan Museum for Costumes and Jewellery, Department of AntiquitiesEarly 20th centuryWood, animals skin; handmade and hand paintedStory-tellers were often accompanied by musicians. The rebab or rababa is an ancient Arab string instrument that was sometimes played to accompany recitals.
FR 184Illustrations of the One Thousand and One Nights, vol. 1National Library of France 1840When Arabian Nights was first translated for a European public in the 18th century it made a huge impact. The Calcutta I (Shirwanee) and Bulaq (Cairo) editions are among the earliest, and the most popular translations are those by A. Galland, R. F. Burton and J. C. Mardrus.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
FR 185Aladdin, or The Magnificent Lamp: sketch of the set for act 1 or act 2National Library of France 1822Tales from the Arabian Nights fuelled the European public’s imagination and hunger for the “exoticism of the East”. Arabian Nights was so popular in Europe that theatre performances and ballets were based on it; the story of Aladdin is one of the best-known.
PT 076Histoire de la Princesse Boudour (Conte des mille et une nuits), Translation by J.C. Mardrus of The Story of the Princess Boudour: Tales of a Thousand and One NightsCalouste Gulbenkian MuseumParis: F.L. Schmied, 1926Binding: black and green morocco by Georges Bretté (1893–1969), with one lacquered plate by Jean Dunond (1877–1942)Jean-Charles Mardrus (1868–1949) was born in Cairo and is best known for his translation of the Arabian Nights from Arabic to French. François-Louis Schmied (1873–1941) and Jean Dunand (1877–1942) worked together to illustrate the volume translated by Mardrus, which is widely regarded as the most beautifully illustrated and eloquent of the French translations.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
PT 076Histoire de la Princesse Boudour (Conte des mille et une nuits), Translation by J.C. Mardrus of The Story of the Princess Boudour: Tales of a Thousand and One NightsCalouste Gulbenkian MuseumParis: F.L. Schmied, 1926Binding: black and green morocco by Georges Bretté (1893–1969), with one lacquered plate by Jean Dunond (1877–1942)Jean-Charles Mardrus (1868–1949) was born in Cairo and is best known for his translation of the Arabian Nights from Arabic to French. François-Louis Schmied (1873–1941) and Jean Dunand (1877–1942) worked together to illustrate the volume translated by Mardrus, which is widely regarded as the most beautifully illustrated and eloquent French translations.
PT 076Histoire de la Princesse Boudour (Conte des mille et une nuits), Translation by J.C. Mardrus of The Story of the Princess Boudour: Tales of a Thousand and One NightsCalouste Gulbenkian MuseumParis: F.L. Schmied, 1926Binding: black and green morocco by Georges Bretté (1893–1969), with one lacquered plate by Jean Dunond (1877–1942)Jean-Charles Mardrus (1868–1949) was born in Cairo and is best known for his translation of the Arabian Nights from Arabic to French. François-Louis Schmied (1873–1941) and Jean Dunand (1877–1942) worked together to illustrate the volume translated by Mardrus, which is widely regarded as the most beautifully illustrated and eloquent French translations.
PT 076Histoire de la Princesse Boudour (Conte des mille et une nuits), Translation by J.C. Mardrus of The Story of the Princess Boudour: Tales of a Thousand and One NightsCalouste Gulbenkian MuseumParis: F.L. Schmied, 1926Binding: black and green morocco by Georges Bretté (1893–1969), with one lacquered plate by Jean Dunond (1877–1942)Jean-Charles Mardrus (1868–1949) was born in Cairo and is best known for his translation of the Arabian Nights from Arabic to French. François-Louis Schmied (1873–1941) and Jean Dunand (1877–1942) worked together to illustrate the volume translated by Mardrus, which is widely regarded as the most beautifully illustrated and eloquent French translations.