Black and white photograph showing models for three-dimensional architectural decoration against a black background. A caption on the card on which the photograph is mounted identifies them as models from the building group of the Viceroy of Egypt at the Vienna world’s fair in 1873, executed after drawings by the architect František Schmoranz by Joseph Dollischek, court sculptor in Vienna (‘Modelle von der Baugruppe des Vicekönigs von Egypten am Wiener Weltausstellungsplatz 1873, ausgeführt im Auftrage des Herrn General-Commissärs Prof. Brugsch-Bey, nach Zeichnungen des Herrn Architekten Schmoranz von Jos. Dollischek k.k. Hofbildhauer in Wien’).

The rectangular model positioned in the middle row on the right can be identified as one half of the stucco and glass window used within the mashrabiyya in the reception room on the ground floor of the Arab dwelling in the Egyptian pavilion, which is documented on a photograph (IG_227). The design includes in its centre openings of different shape in a radial arrangement; connected to this are further openings that merge the design into a calyx shape. The corners are accentuated by openings and the horizontal border by a band with repeating rhombus- and triangle-shaped openings. The whole background is perforated with small round holes.

The models show that the stucco and glass windows of the Arab dwelling were neither historical nor newly made architectural fragments brought from Cairo, but that they were produced in Vienna by Joseph Dollischek after designs by the pavilion’s architect, Schmoranz.