Egyptian Dallah Coffee Pot, 1940s

Description

Object:

a dallah (arabic: دلة) is a traditional arabic coffee pot used to prepare and serve coffee in the arabian … more Object:

a dallah (arabic: دلة) is a traditional arabic coffee pot used to prepare and serve coffee in the arabian peninsula or the persian gulf. Due to its intimate association with the coffee ritual, the dallah is a strong object of identity for the arab and gulf populations, who use it as an allegory of their tradition of hospitality.

visual details

1. General form:

the coffee maker features a distinctive shape with a bulbous body that tapers at the waist and flares out at the top.
it is covered with an arrow-shaped lid topped with a large fleuron and held by a sinuous handle.
the most distinctive feature is its long, crescent-shaped beak, decorated with patterns.

2. Grounds:

beak: the beak is decorated with engraved designs, probably representing traditional designs.

body: the body of the coffee maker is richly decorated with scenes and motifs evoking ancient egypt:

a pyramid, a sphinx and a radiant sun. These elements are emblematic of egyptian culture and iconography.
floral and serpentine designs add an extra decorative dimension.

a traditionally dressed man leads a camel carrying a load.

the designs are surrounded by geometric borders and diamond patterns.

lid: the lid is simple, with a grip topped with a crescent moon pattern, often symbolizing islamic culture.

origins: the origins of the dallah are not known with certainty. It is likely that it appeared during the 16th century, when coffee spread throughout the ottoman empire, although its specific form may not appear until the mid-17th century. In any case, the dallah is later than the turkish cezve and even more so after the ethiopian jebena.

function: dallah is inseparable from arabic coffee. This is part of the tradition of hospitality of the arab and gulf populations, although it is also associated with festive events such as weddings. This is the first drink served to guests, greeted with the suggestion “come in for a coffee”, regardless of the other food and drinks on offer. Any breach of the ritual attached to serving coffee, or any reluctance to offer it, may be perceived as a lack of respect towards the guest. The dallah, closely associated with this moment, is therefore emblematic of the identity of the arab and gulf populations: it is displayed with pride in homes as a symbol of their hospitality. Arabic coffee – and with it the dallah – has been recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of saudi arabia, the united arab emirates, oman and qatar since 2015.

traditional coffee makers are named based on their size. Richer sheikhs and merchants used three, brewing coffee in a five-gallon dallah called a khumra, decanting it into a medium-sized dallah al-logmah, then serving it in a smaller dallah al-mzal. The residue from the spices remained in the large pots and only homogeneous coffee was served.

aesthetics and manufacturing: the dallah can be made of brass, steel, silver and even 24-karat gold for the grandest occasions or those used by the royal families of the peninsula. There are four traditional designs: a swirl, a diamond, a flower inside a square, and a design based on the cardamom pod.

artisanal manufacturing is disappearing in the gulf countries in favor of imports from pakistan or morocco.
iconography: a dallah adorns the coins of a dirham of the united arab emirates and frequently decorates a certain number of urban places (cornices or roundabouts). It is also an essential item in souvenir shops and souks, as a symbol of life in the arab peninsula. less