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Photo Sinaw souq
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Below your find photos of different Omani souqs / bazaars, traders and visitors taken between 1985 and 1995. We also found a couple of historic descriptions and illustrations of the souqs in Oman.
In 1672 a Dutch VOC ship visited Muscat and the Dutchman Padbrugge visited the Muscat souq. This visit was recorded in the ship's log that still resides in the National Archives in The Hague, this is probably the earliest description of an Omani souq. See Ref 1 (bottom of this page) for details. The description includes details about different interesting arts and crafts in the Muscat souq.
In 2014 a fine book about the Muttrah souq and the people working there for generations was published with the title "Throw down the anchor. The Story of the Muttrah souq" by Maxine Burden See Ref 2.
Around 1874 the American tourist Perry Fogg of Cleveland visited the Muscat souq and witnessed a person walking around the souq to auction off a sword. This method was still used in Nizwa in 1980's and possibly later (see photo below) For his very "colourful" description see Ref 4 at the end of this page. The introduction of his book Arabistan in 1875 mentions that Arabia has become accessible to tourists in the past few years.
Antiques Auctioneer in Nizwa souq, he walks constantly along shops seeking higher bids for his antique objects (typically guns, daggers and swords) from the shop owners. identical to the sword auctioneer described by American tourist Perry Fogg in the Muscat souq around 1875 (see picture below) !!
Nizwa old souq
Nizwa old souq
Nizwa's ancient cattle / goat souq close to the fort
Nizwa temporary souq (during renovation old souq)
Nizwa temporary souq
Nizwa temporary souq
Nizwa temporary souq
Nizwa temporary souq
Nizwa temporary souq
Nizwa souq
Renovated Nizwa souq
Locally produced camel cloths for sale on the Jebel Shams
Camel Cloths for sale on the Jebel Shams
Antique shop in Muttrah souq
Muttrah souq
Muttrah souq
Muttrah souq
Muttrah souq
Muttrah souq Finding a souvenir
Muttrah souq
Muttrah Souq
Muttrah Souq in 1992 (photo front-cover PDO News)
Nizwa souq
Rustaq souq
Smith in Rustaq souq
Smith in Rustaq souq
Tobacco dealer in Rustaq souq
Rustaq souq
Khanjar sold in Sinaw Souq
Plenty old khanjars for sale in Sinaw souq
Sinaw souq, an auctioneer showing his goods
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Sinaw Souq
Nizwa old copper souq
Incense sold in the souq
Transport vehicle Sinaw Souq
REFERENCES
Antique auctioneer Muscat souq 1875 described by Fogg
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Fogg's visit to the Muscat souq in 1875
Muscat souq in 1898, illustration by Emile Allemann
Muscat souq around 1915, postcard image by Fernandez