Egyptian Dallah Coffee Pot: Symbol of Hospitality and Cultural Richness

Object:

A dallah (in 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 close association with the coffee ritual, the dallah is a strong identity symbol for Arab and Gulf populations, symbolizing their tradition of hospitality.

Visual Details:

1. General Shape:

   • The coffee pot has a distinctive shape with a bulbous body that narrows at the waist and flares out at the top.
   • It is covered with a pointed lid topped with a large finial and secured by a sinuous handle.
   • The most distinctive feature is its long crescent-shaped spout, decorated with motifs.

2. Motifs:

   • Spout: The spout is adorned with engraved patterns, likely representing traditional motifs.
   • Body: The body of the coffee pot 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 motifs add an extra decorative dimension.
     • A man dressed traditionally leads a camel carrying a load.
     • The motifs are surrounded by geometric borders and diamond patterns.
   • Lid: The lid is simple, with a knob topped with a crescent moon motif, often symbolizing Islamic culture.

Origins:

The origins of the dallah are not known with certainty. It probably appeared in the 16th century when coffee spread through the Ottoman Empire, although its specific shape may not have emerged until the mid-17th century. In any case, the dallah is later than the Turkish cezve and even more so than the Ethiopian jebena.

Function:

The dallah is inseparable from Arabic coffee. This is part of the hospitality tradition of Arab and Gulf populations, although it is also associated with festive events such as weddings. It is the first drink served to guests, welcomed with the phrase “come in and have a coffee,” regardless of other food and drinks offered. Any failure in the coffee-serving ritual or reluctance to offer it can be seen as a lack of respect towards the guest. The dallah, closely associated with this moment, is therefore emblematic of the identity of Arab and Gulf populations: it is proudly displayed in homes as a symbol of their hospitality. Arabic coffee—and with it the dallah—has been recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar since 2015.

Traditional coffee pots are named according to their size. The wealthiest sheikhs and merchants used three pots, preparing coffee in a five-gallon dallah called khumra, transferring it to a medium-sized dallah al-logmah, and then serving it in a smaller dallah al-mzal. The spice residues stayed 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-carat gold for grand occasions or those used by the royal families of the peninsula. There are four traditional patterns: a swirl, a diamond, a flower inside a square, and a pattern based on the cardamom pod. Handcrafted production tends to disappear in the Gulf countries in favor of imports from Pakistan or Morocco.

Iconography:

A dallah adorns the one-dirham coins of the United Arab Emirates and frequently embellishes several urban locations (corniches or roundabouts). It is also a staple in souvenir shops and souks, symbolizing life in the Arabian Peninsula.

Ref: ZC77V676AW